Custom pointer features for touch-screen on remote client devices

ABSTRACT

Examples of systems and methods for providing a cursor for a touch-screen at a client device are disclosed. An apparatus may comprise a remote view module configured to generate a remote view based on display output from a remote server, a local view module configured to generate a cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer, configured to monitor movements of a user&#39;s finger on a local display at a local client device, configured to move the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user&#39;s finger, configured to receive user inputs to the cursor from the local display, and configured to facilitate sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server, and a display module configured to provide, to the local display, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/169,664, entitled “ENABLING SERVER SIDE COMPUTING ON A REMOTE CLIENT WHILE FACILITATING AN IMPROVED USER EXPERIENCE FOR THE REMOTE CLIENT USER,” filed on Apr. 15, 2009, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/169,667, entitled “ENABLING SERVER SIDE COMPUTING FROM A REMOTE CLIENT AND FACILITATING THE REMOTE CLIENT TO CUSTOMIZE AND CONTROL A SERVER APPLICATION,” filed on Apr. 15, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/236,522, entitled “CUSTOM POINTER FEATURES FOR TOUCH-SCREEN ON REMOTE CLIENT DEVICES,” filed on Aug. 24, 2009, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

A client device may access remotely an application running on a remote server. However, a remote application may be designed for a desktop environment for a large screen, which can make it very difficult for a user at a client device having a small screen to interact with the remote application.

Instead of remotely accessing a desktop application from a client device, the application may be rewritten to run on the client device. However, client devices are typically slower and have limited resources compared with servers (e.g., desktop computer). As a result, rewriting an application on a server to run on a client device can be a huge undertaking requiring a large investment and long development time. For example, it can be very difficult to port existing code from an operating system of a server to a client device (e.g., smartphone). In many cases it is not practical to rewrite an application from scratch to match the native functionality and user interface of a client device.

Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods that facilitate user interaction with an application running on a server from a client device and provide an improved experience for users at the client device.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus may be provided for communication and for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a local graphical user interface (GUI) and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server. The apparatus may comprise a remote view module, a local view module and a display module. The remote view module may be configured to generate the remote view of the remote application based on display output data of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server. The local view module may be configured to generate the local GUI for controlling the remote application remotely from the local client device, configured to control an area of the display output data of the remote application that is displayed in the remote view, and configured to keep track of coordinates and dimensions of the area. The display module may be configured to provide, to a local display at the local client device, a composite view comprising the local GUI and the remote view of the remote application.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method may be performed for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server. The method may comprise one or more of the following: generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server; generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer; providing, to a local display at the local client device, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view; monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display; moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user's finger on the local display; receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display; and facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server.

In yet another aspect of disclosure, an apparatus may be provided for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server. The apparatus may comprise one or more of the following: means for generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server, means for generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer, means for providing, to a local display at the local client device, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view, means for monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display, means for moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user's finger on the local display, means for receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display, and means for facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a machine-readable medium may be encoded with instructions for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server. The instructions may comprise code for generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server, generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer, providing, to a local display at the local client device, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view, monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display, moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user's finger on the local display, receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display, and facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server.

It is understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an example of a display on a client device during a remote access session with a remote server.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a web browser running on a server.

FIGS. 1C to 1E illustrate examples of different portions of the web browser displayed on a client device.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual block diagram of a computer network according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram of a server according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual block diagram of a client device according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a conceptual block diagram of a server according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a conceptual block diagram of a client according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a remote access connection.

FIG. 7 illustrates a composite view at the client device according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8A illustrates an example of a local GUI according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B illustrates an example of a graphical keyboard according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a display at the client device according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual block diagram of server and client remote access modules according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a plurality of connections between the server and the client device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary computing system in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13A illustrates an example of an operation of a system according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13B illustrates an example of a configuration of an apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14A illustrates an example of a remote application displayed at a client device.

FIG. 14B illustrates an example of a graphical keyboard displayed at the client device for entering text for the remote application.

FIG. 15A illustrates an example of an area of the display output of a remote application that is displayed in a remote application view of a client device.

FIG. 15B illustrates an example in which the area of the display output in FIG. 15A is scrolled to the right.

FIG. 16A illustrates an example in which a dialog box or window is located outside the area of the display output displayed in the remote application view.

FIG. 16B illustrates an example in which the area of the display output displayed in the remote application view is scrolled to the right to encompass the dialog box or window.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example in which a portion of an object of a remote application is displayed at a client device.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example in which a remote application view of the client device is scrolled to the right to reveal the entire object of the remote application.

FIG. 19A illustrates an example in which a portion of an object is located within an area of the display output displayed in the remote application view.

FIG. 19B illustrates an example in which the entire object is located within the area of the display output displayed in the remote application view.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a local GUI at a client device listing applications that are available at a remote server.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a remote desktop displayed at a client device.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual block diagram of an agent module according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23A illustrates an example of an operation of an apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23B illustrates an example of a configuration of an apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24A illustrates an example of an operation of an apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24B illustrates an example of a configuration of an apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25A illustrates an example of a display at the client device with a cursor according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25B illustrates an example of a cursor pointing to an element on the display according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25C illustrates an example of a cursor with additional command features displayed according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25D illustrates an example of using a cursor to pan the display according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26A shows a blowup view of the cursor in FIG. 25A.

FIG. 26B illustrates a cursor according to another aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 27A shows a blowup view of the cursor in FIG. 25C.

FIG. 27B illustrates a cursor with additional command features according to another aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 28A illustrates an example of a cursor fixed at the center of a screen.

FIG. 28B illustrates an example of a screen with icons for switching between navigation and interaction.

FIG. 29A illustrates an example of an operation of an apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 29B illustrates an example of a configuration of an apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology. Like components are labeled with identical element numbers for ease of understanding.

FIG. 1A shows an example of a display 100 at a client device with a large screen during a remote access session with a server. The display 100 includes the local desktop 105 of the client device, a remote view window 115 showing an image of a remote desktop 115 and a remote web browser application 120 running on the server. The image of the remote desktop 115 and remote application 120 are based on display output data of the remote desktop 115 and remote application 120 from the server.

FIG. 1B shows an enlarged view of the remote web browser application 120. The remote web browser application 120 includes a GUI 122 (e.g., toolbars) and a window 124 for displaying web content. The GUI 122 is designed to be viewed on a large display. As a result, it can be very different for a user at a client device with a small display to remotely interact with the remote web browser 120. For example, if the image of the entire remote web browser application 120 is displayed on a client device with a small display, then the GUI 122 is greatly reduced in size making it difficult for the user to view the GUI 122 and select graphical control objects in the GUI 122.

If the user at the client device zooms in on a portion of the remote web browser application 120 to enlarge that portion for viewing on a client device with a small screen (e.g., mobile phone), then the user needs to constantly manipulate the remote view by adjusting the zoom and scrolling to view different portions of the web browser application 120. FIG. 1C shows an example of a client device 135 in which a portion of the remote web browser application 120 has been zoomed in for viewing on the display 140 of the client device 135 (e.g., smartphone). In this example, only a portion of the GUI 122 is visible. As a result, the user at the client device has to adjust the zoom and/or scroll the remote view on the display 140 to view the GUI 122. FIG. 1D shows another example in which a different portion of the GUI 122 is visible on the display 140. FIG. 1E shows an example in which the GUI 122 is not visible at all on the display 140. The different portions of the web browser application 120 displayed in FIGS. 1C to 1E are shown in FIG. 1B in dashed boxes. Thus, interacting with a remote application running on a server from a client device (e.g., smartphone) can be very cumbersome and difficult.

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified diagram of a system 200 in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The system 200 may include one or more remote client devices 202 in communication with a server computing device 204 (server) via a network 206. In one aspect, the server 204 is configured to allow remote sessions (e.g., remote desktop sessions) wherein users can access applications and files on the server 204 by logging onto the server 204 from a client device 202. Such a connection may be established using any of several well-known techniques such as the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) on a Windows-based server.

By way of illustration and not limitation, in one aspect of the disclosure, stated from a perspective of a server side (treating a server as a local device and treating a client device as a remote device), a server application is executed (or runs) at a server 204. While a remote client device 202 may receive and display a view of the server application on a display local to the remote client device 202, the remote client device 202 does not execute (or run) the server application at the remote client device 202. Stated in another way from a perspective of the client side (treating a server as remote device and treating a client device as a local device), a remote application is executed (or runs) at a remote server 204.

By way of illustration and not limitation, a client device 202 can represent a computer, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a thin client device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computing device, or a suitable device with a processor. In one example, a client device 202 is a smartphone (e.g., iPhone, Android phone, Blackberry, etc.). In certain configurations, a client device 202 can represent an audio player, a game console, a camera, a camcorder, an audio device, a video device, a multimedia device, or a device capable of supporting a connection to a remote server. In one example, a client device 202 can be mobile. In another example, a client device 202 can be stationary. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a client device 202 may be a device having at least a processor and memory, where the total amount of memory of the client device 202 could be less than the total amount of memory in a server 204. In one example, a client device 202 does not have a hard disk. In one aspect, a client device 202 has a display smaller than a display supported by a server 204. In one aspect, a client device may include one or more client devices.

In one aspect, a server 204 may represent a computer, a laptop computer, a computing device, a virtual machine (e.g., VMware® Virtual Machine), a desktop session (e.g., Microsoft Terminal Server), a published application (e.g., Microsoft Terminal Server) or a suitable device with a processor. In one aspect, a server 204 can be stationary. In another aspect, a server 204 can be mobile. In certain configurations, a server 204 may be any device that can represent a client device. In one aspect, a server 204 may include one or more servers.

In one example, a first device is remote to a second device when the first device is not directly connected to the second device. In one example, a first remote device may be connected to a second device over a communication network such as a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), and/or other network.

When a client device 202 and a server 204 are remote with respect to each other, a client device 202 may connect to a server 204 over a network 206, for example, via a modem connection, a LAN connection including the Ethernet or a broadband WAN connection including DSL, Cable, T1, T3, Fiber Optics, Wi-Fi, or a mobile network connection including GSM, GPRS, 3G, WiMax or other network connection. A network 206 can be a LAN network, a WAN network, a wireless network, the Internet, an intranet or other network. A network 206 may include one or more routers for routing data between client devices and/or servers. A remote device (e.g., client device, server) on a network may be addressed by a corresponding network address, such as, but not limited to, an Internet protocol (IP) address, an Internet name, a Windows Internet name service (WINS) name, a domain name or other system name. These illustrate some examples as to how one device may be remote to another device. But the subject technology is not limited to these examples.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the terms “server” and “remote server” are generally used synonymously in relation to a client device, and the word “remote” may indicate that a server is in communication with other device(s), for example, over a network connection(s).

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the terms “client device” and “remote client device” are generally used synonymously in relation to a server, and the word “remote” may indicate that a client device is in communication with a server(s), for example, over a network connection(s).

In one aspect of the disclosure, a “client device” may be sometimes referred to as a client or vice versa. Similarly, a “server” may be sometimes referred to as a server device or vice versa.

In one aspect, the terms “local” and “remote” are relative terms, and a client device may be referred to as a local client device or a remote client device, depending on whether a client device is described from a client side or from a server side, respectively. Similarly, a server may be referred to as a local server or a remote server, depending on whether a server is described from a server side or from a client side, respectively. Furthermore, an application running on a server may be referred to as a local application, if described from a server side, and may be referred to as a remote application, if described from a client side.

In one aspect, devices placed on a client side (e.g., devices connected directly to a client device(s) or to one another using wires or wirelessly) may be referred to as local devices with respect to a client device and remote devices with respect to a server. Similarly, devices placed on a server side (e.g., devices connected directly to a server(s) or to one another using wires or wirelessly) may be referred to as local devices with respect to a server and remote devices with respect to a client device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a server 204 in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. The server 204 comprises an agent module 322, an OS module 324, one or more application modules 326, a desktop module 328, a server remote access module 334 and an operating system (OS) 330 in communication with the modules. In one aspect, the OS module 324 can be a part of the OS 330. The server 204 is communicatively coupled with the network 206 via a network interface 332. The modules can be implemented in software, hardware and/or a combination of both. Features and functions of these modules according to various aspects are further described in the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a client device 202 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The client device 202 comprises a viewer controller (VC) module 456, a client remote access module 452 and an operating system (OS) 460 in communication with the modules. The modules are further in communication with various user interface devices (not shown in FIG. 4) via a human interface devices (HID) connection 458. The user interface devices may include one or more output devices (e.g., one or more of a display, a speaker, or other audio, image or video output devices) and one or more input devices (e.g., one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a microphone, a stylus, a touch screen, a touch pad, a pen, a tablet, or other audio, image or video input devices). The modules are also in communication with the network 206 via a network connection 462. The modules can be implemented in software, hardware and/or a combination of both. Additional features and functions of these modules according to various aspects of the present disclosure are further described in the disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are conceptual block diagrams illustrating a server 204 and a client device 202 according to an aspect of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the server 204 may comprise the server remote access module 334 and the agent module 322. The server remote access module 334 is configured to establish a remote access connection 525 with the client device 202 to provide the client device 202 with remote access to a desktop and/or applications running on the server 204. The server remote access module 334 may comprise a remote access application and may communicate with the client device 202 over a network 206 based on a remote access protocol (e.g., RDP/ICA), other protocols or a combination of protocols. Remote access applications allow a user at a client device to remotely access a desktop and/or application running on a server. Examples of remote access applications include, but are not limited to, the Microsoft® Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) application and the Citrix® Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) application.

The server remote access module 334 is also configured to receive command messages from the client device 202 and communicate the received command messages to the agent module 322. The agent module 322 may be configured to control a desktop and/or application running on the server 204 based on the received command messages, as described further below.

The server 204 further comprises an application module 326, the desktop module 328 and the OS module 324. The application module 326 comprises an application 327 and an application control module 325. An application 327 may include one or more applications. The application 327 may include, for example, a web browser application, a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, a game application, an audio application, and/or other applications. The application 327 may also include applications for rendering multi-media content including, for example, Adobe® Acrobat, Microsoft® Silverlight, and/or other applications. In one example, the application 327 is executed (or runs) at the server 204, and the client device 202 does not execute (or run) the application 327 locally at the client device 202.

An application control module 325 may include one or more application control modules. The application control module 325 may be configured to control the application 327 based on commands from the agent module 322. The application control module 325 may comprise one or more ActiveX controllers for controlling Windows-based applications or other types of controller. The application control module 325 may also control the applications based on user inputs received by the remote access module 334 from the client device 202. The user inputs may comprise pointer inputs, keyboard inputs and/or other inputs. The application control module 325 may also control the applications based on events generated by the application 327 or the OS 330.

The desktop module 328 may be configured to generate a desktop that provides a GUI for allowing a user to select and launch applications on the server 204, manage files, and configure certain features of the operating system 330. The GUI may be a server-based GUI presented by the agent module 322. Alternatively, the GUI may be controlled by the agent module 322 and displayed natively on the client device. The desktop may display icons representing different applications that can be launched on the server 204, in which a user can select an application by moving a pointer to the corresponding icon and double clicking on the icon. The OS module 324 may be configured to communicate certain OS events to the agent module 322 and the server remote access module 334, as described further below.

The server 204 further comprises the operating system 330, which may manage and provide communication to and receive communication from the modules and application shown in FIG. 5A. The operating system 330 may also manage multiple remote user sessions allowing multiple client devices to remotely access the server 204. The operating system 330 may include Microsoft® Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS or another operating system. Although the server remote access module 334 is shown separately from the operating system 330, the server remote access module 334 may be considered part of the operating system 330. For example, the remote access module 334 may comprise an RDP application that comes pre-installed on the server 204 as part of Microsoft® Windows.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, the client device 202 may comprise the client remote access module 452 and the viewer controller module 456. The client remote access module 452 may be configured to communicate with the server 204 over a network 206 to remotely access a desktop and/or applications running on the server 204. The client remote access module 452 may communicate with the server remote access module 334 based on a remote access protocol (e.g., RDP/ICA), other protocols or a combination of protocols. In one aspect, the client remote access module 452 may be configured to receive display output data of a desktop and/or application running on the server 204 from the server remote access module 334 over a network 206.

In one aspect of the disclosure, display output data may comprise visual/audio information that a user located at a server 204 would have seen on a display at the server (e.g., a “virtual” display) and/or would have heard from an audio output such as a speaker at the server (e.g., a “virtual” speaker). In one aspect, the display output data may comprise an image (e.g., bitmap) and/or drawing commands of the display output of a desktop and/or application running on the server 204. In one aspect, drawing commands provide instructions or information to a display system as to what is to be drawn on a display. The instructions or information may include, for example and without limitation, the location, texture, geometry, shading, light intensity, or color, or any combination therein, of a pixel or group of pixels of the display. In some aspects, a drawing command corresponds to multiple pixels. Still in some aspects, a drawing command corresponds to a single pixel of a display. In some aspects, drawing commands may include raster operations. In one aspect of the disclosure, the phrase “display output data” may be sometimes referred to as “display data”, “display output” or vice versa.

The client remote access module 452 may be configured to send user inputs to the server remote access module 334 over a network 206. The user inputs may comprise pointer inputs, keyboard inputs and/or other types of input. The client remote access module 452 may also be configured to send command messages to the server remote access module 334, which are described in further detail below. The remote access connection 525 between the server 204 and client device 202 may comprise a plurality of virtual channels for communicating different types of data. For example, a RDP connection may include different virtual channels for display output data and user inputs. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the remote access connection 525 comprising multiple virtual channels 620 a to 620 c.

The viewer controller module 456 may comprise a remote view module 535, a local view module 540 and a display module 555. The remote view module 535 may be configured to receive display output data of a desktop and/or application 327 running on the server 204 from the client remote access module 452 and generate a remote view of the display output data of the remote desktop and/or application. In one aspect of the disclosure, the phrase “remote view” may sometimes be referred to as “remote application view” or vice versa. In one aspect of the disclosure, the term “an application” or “a remote application” may refer to an application, a remote application, a desktop, or a remote desktop.

The local view module 540 may be configured to generate a local GUI that allows a user at the client device 202 to remotely control the application 327 running on the server 204. The local view module 540 may generate the local GUI based on a configuration file 541. In one aspect, the file 541 may be generated by the agent module 322 or application module 326 and be sent to the client device 202. The file 541 may fully define the layout, design and logical operation of the local GUI. This would allow the server 204 to update the local GUI in the client device 202 without having to make modifications to the client device 202. The local GUI may provide similar controls as the GUI of the application 327 running on the server 204. The local GUI may include graphical control objects for controlling certain functions of the application 327.

For the example of a web browser application, the graphical control objects of the local GUI may include an address field for entering the address (e.g., URL) of a web page, a refresh button, a go button, and scrollbars. The local GUI is displayed on the local display 560 of the client device 202. A user at the client device 202 may select graphical control objects of the local GUI displayed on the display 560 using an input device 565, for example, a touch screen overlying the display 560. As described further below, the local GUI may be optimized for the display 560 of the client device 202 to provide the user at the client device 202 with a user friendly interface for remotely controlling the application 327 running on the server 204.

The display module 555 may be configured to receive a local GUI from the local view module 540 and a remote application view of a remote desktop and/or a remote application from the remote view module 535 and generate a composite view comprising the local GUI and the remote application view of the remote desktop and/or remote application.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a composite view rendered on a display 560 of a client device 202. In this example, the composite view includes a remote application view 704 for viewing an image of the display output of a remote application 327 running on the server 204. The remote application view is based on the display output data of the remote application 327 received from the server 204. The user may manipulate the image of the remote application 327 shown in the remote application view 704. For example, the remote application view 704 may be responsive to, for example, viewing selections by a user such as zooming factor, the depth of the color palette used, viewing angle (pan and tilt) and so on. The viewing selections may be provided in a GUI. The user may also zoom in and out within the remote application view 704 using any technique. For example, the user may zoom in by sliding two fingers on the display 560 away from each other and zoom out by sliding the fingers on the display towards each other on the display 560, which is currently supported by, for example, iPhone and Palm Pre. User inputs within the remote application view 704 are directed to the remote view module 535.

The composite view may also include a local GUI 702 and 706. The local GUI 702 may display a local header for the application shown in the display area 704. In one aspect, the local header may display an application name based on information received from the server 204. In another aspect, the local header may be locally generated (e.g., a remote session window). In yet another aspect, the local header may display an editable text input area, such as an address field for a web browser. The local GUI 706 may display, for example, local control GUI objects such as a local control GUI toolbar. The local control GUI objects may be based on information received from the remote server 204.

The dimensions and layouts of the remote application view 704 and local GUI 702 and 706 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 7. The remote application view 704 and local GUI 702 and 706 may have other dimensions and layouts, for example, based on the remote application being accessed by the client device 202.

In one aspect, the local GUI 702 and 706 is not generated from the display output of a remote application 327 running on the server 204. For example, the local GUI 702 and 706 is not an image of the remote application's GUI generated from the display output of the remote application 327 running on the server 204. Instead, the local GUI is locally generated by the local view module 540, for example, based on configuration file 541 (shown in FIG. 5B). Furthermore, the configuration file 541 may be received by the local view module 540 by the application control module 325 or the agent module 322.

FIG. 8A shows an example of a local control GUI 706. The local control GUI 706 comprises a toolbar 806 including graphical control objects. The graphical control objects may include a keyboard icon 820, a BACK arrow 822, a FORWARD arrow 824, a pointer icon 826, a MOUSE icon 828 and a TOOLS icon 830. When a user selects the keyboard icon 820 (e.g., by touching or tapping), the local view module 540 may change the local control GUI 806 to display a graphical keyboard 820 a for the user to enter text (shown in FIG. 8B). The layout details of a keyboard 820 a may be provided in a configuration file 541 (shown in FIG. 5B), or may be based on the local GUI tools provided by the OS 460 of the client device 202.

When a user selects the BACK icon 822, the web browser application displays a previously displayed web page. In certain embodiments, the client device 202 may perform this by communicating to the server 204, a control code corresponding to this event. In other embodiments, the client device 202 may include a local cache of previously displayed web pages and may use the cached data to render the previously displayed web page. In a manner similar to the BACK icon 822, the FORWARD icon 824 may be used to render a later viewed web page in the web browser. The pointer icon 826 may allow a user to activate a pointer within the display area of the remote application view 704. The MOUSE icon 828 may allow a user to activate a mouse cursor, which then will invoke mouse movements or mouse clicks, and the TOOLS icon 830 may open further menus containing additional tools, as provided in a configuration file and as provided by the OS 460 of the client device 202.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that, according to one aspect of the disclosure, because the control objects of the local GUI are rendered locally, these objects can be advantageously rendered at the resolution of the local display 560 and can be rendered to have dimensions that can be easily navigated or handled by a user using a finger, a stylus or any other native navigation method(s) provided by the client device 202 (e.g., track-ball, keyboard, etc.). Furthermore, the available display area for the remote application view (e.g., 704) of a remote application can be fully dedicated to content displayed by the remote application by deactivating control GUI objects from the remote application view 704. For example, a web browser executed at a remote server 204 may be displayed in the remote application view 704 after deactivating scrollbars and menu header of the web browser at the server 204. The toolbar and the menu header controls can be provided by the local GUI instead.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a composite view 900 that may be rendered locally on display 560. The composite view 900 comprises the local GUI 902 and 906 and the remote application view 904 of a remote application 327 running on the server 204. In this example, the graphical control objects of the local GUI 902 and 906 include an IP address field, a LOAD button, a BACK button, a FORWARD button, a MOUSE button, and a GEAR button for remotely controlling a web browser application 327 running on the server 204.

Referring to the figures discussed above, various operations of the modules in a 204 sever and in a client device 202 are further described below in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure.

Now referring to FIGS. 5B and 7, the client device 202 may further comprise an input device 560 and a user input module 550. In one example, the input device 560 comprises a touch screen overlaying the display 560. In this aspect, the user may enter user inputs within a display area corresponding to the local GUI 702 and 706 by tapping on a desired graphical control object using a finger or stylus. The user input module 550 may send user inputs to the local GUI 702 and 706 for remotely controlling the application 327 to the local view module 540. For the example of a touch screen, when the user touches a display area corresponding to the local GUI 702 and 706, the user input module 550 directs the corresponding user inputs to the local view module 540. The user inputs may comprise coordinates of the location where the user touched the display 560.

The user may also enter user inputs within a remote application view 704 of a remote application 327 on the display 560. For the example of a touch screen, the user may enter user inputs by moving a pointer (not shown) within a display area corresponding to the remote application view 704 of the remote application 327. In this aspect, the user input module 550 directs user inputs within the remote view 704 to the remote view module 535.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the local view module 540 may be configured to generate a command message based on user inputs to the local GUI 702 and 706 for remotely controlling the application 327 and send the command message to the server 204. For the example of a touch screen, the local view module 540 interprets user inputs to the local GUI 702 or 706 and then translates them into corresponding command messages. In this example, a user input may comprise coordinates of a location where the user touches the local GUI 702 or 706 on the display 560 or coordinates of a pointer within the local GUI 702 or 706 controlled by the user, for example, using a pointer device. The local view module 540 can determine which graphical control object is selected by the user based on the graphical control object in the local GUI 702 and 706 corresponding to the coordinates of the user inputs. The local view module 540 determines the function associated with the selected graphical control object and generates a command message for the server 204 with a command to perform the function. For example, if the user touches the local GUI 702 or 706 (e.g., using a finger) at a location corresponding to a refresh button in the local GUI 702 and 706, then the local view module 540 generates a command message for the server 204 to refresh the web page.

In one aspect, the agent module 322 on the server 204 receives the command message and issues a command to the application control module 325 to control the application 327 based on the command message. For example, if the command message is to refresh the web page, then the agent module 322 instructs the application control module 325 to reload the web page on the web browser application 327. Thus, the local view module 540 generates command messages based on user inputs to the local GUI and sends the command messages to the agent module 322 on the server 204, and the agent module 322 controls the remote application based on the received command messages using the application control module 325.

In one aspect, when a local view module 540 receives one or more user inputs directed to, or placed into, a local GUI (e.g., 702 or 706), the local view module 540 may interpret the one or more user inputs, determine (or identify) function(s) corresponding to the one or more user inputs, and generate one or more command messages corresponding to the function(s) by, for example, translating the one or more user inputs into the command message(s). Determining the function of a user input may, for example, include identifying the type of user input (e.g., a text entry, a button selection, a menu selection) and/or determining a function corresponding to the user input (e.g., a text entry for an IP address field, a selection of a BACK button, etc.). For example, when the user input comprises a selection of a button (e.g., refresh button) in the local GUI (e.g., based on coordinates of a user's touch on the display 560), the local view module 540 may determine the function (e.g., refresh current web page) associated with the selected button. In one aspect, these functions are predetermined. The local view module 540 then generates a command message based on the determined function. Some examples of command messages may include, but are not limited to, a command to load a web page from an IP address, display a previously viewed web page, display a later viewed web page, refresh or reload a current web page, stop loading of a webpage, zoom in or out, switch applications, open bookmarks or history (e.g., for a web browser application), and other commands. A command message may comprise a command packet that is transmitted from the client device 202 to the server 204 using various protocols, compressions and encryption schemes. The server 204 may also send commands and status information to the client device 202. For example, the server 204 may send the client device 202 a web page loading status, a redirected URL or keyboard state.

In one aspect, the remote view module 535 may be configured to send user inputs received within the remote application view 704 to the server 204 via the remote access module 452. The user inputs may include pointer inputs comprising coordinates of pointer movements and clicks (e.g., mouse clicks). For example, the user may move a pointer (not shown) within the remote application view 704 using a touch screen, a touch pad, a trackball, a mouse or other pointer input device. In this example, the coordinates of the pointer movements may be transmitted to the server 204. The user inputs may also include keyboard inputs. The user inputs may enter keyboard inputs using a graphical keyboard (e.g., 820 a) displayed on the display 560, a keypad or other device. For example, when the user desires to enter text at the location of a pointer or cursor within the remote application view 704, the user may tap on a keyboard icon (e.g., 920) to bring up the graphical keyboard to enter the text. In one aspect, the client device access module 452 may send user inputs comprising pointer inputs (e.g., coordinates of pointer movements) and keyboard inputs to the server 204 using RDP, ICA or other remote access protocol.

In one aspect, the server remote access module 334 may receive the user inputs from the client remote access module 452 over the remote access connection 525 and sends the user inputs to the application control module 325. The application control module 325 interprets the received user inputs and controls the application 327 accordingly.

In one aspect, when an application 327 updates its display output in response to a received command message or user inputs, the remote access module 334 may send updated display output data to the client device 202. The client remote access module 452 receives the updated display output data of the remote application 327 and sends the updated display output data to the remote view module 535. The remote view module 535 then generates an updated image of the display output of the remote application, which is displayed within the remote application view 704 of the display 560.

Aspects of the disclosure allow the user at the client device 202 to remotely view an application running on the server 204 while controlling the application using a local GUI that can be optimized for the display 560 of the client device 202.

An advantage of aspects of the disclosure may be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 9 and 1B. FIG. 9 shows an example of a composite view 900 at the client device 202 for a web browser application running on the server 204, according to an aspect of the disclosure. In this example, the GUI of the application 327 running on the server 204 may be similar to the GUI 122 shown in FIG. 1B, which is designed for a large display. Instead of displaying an image of the remote application's GUI 122 running on the server 204, the local view module 540 advantageously generates and displays a local GUI 902 and 906 for controlling the remote application 327. In one aspect, the local GUI 902 and 906 in FIG. 9 is not based on the display output of the remote application 327. The local GUI 902 and 906 may be optimized for the display 560 of the client device 202. An image of the display output of the remote web browser application 327 is displayed within the remote application view 904 allowing the user at the client device 202 to remotely view the web browser application 327 while remotely controlling the web browser application 327 using the local GUI 902 and 906.

The local GUI 702 and 706 may be designed to have a similar look and feel of a web browser application that is native to the client device (e.g., smartphone). This allows the user at the client device to control a web browser application 327 running on a server 204 in a similar manner as a web browser that is native to the client device (e.g., smartphone), while enjoying the benefits of server-side computing such as increased computing power and resources available on the server 204. For example, a web browser application 327 running on a server has access to plug-in applications on the server 204 for rendering multi-media content. As a result, the plug-in applications do not have to be, for example, loaded onto the client device 202. Another advantage of the local GUI is that it allows a user at the client device 202 to use the application on the server 204 in a user friendly environment without having to extensively rewrite the application port the application to the client device.

In an aspect of the disclosure, the local GUI and the remote application view 704 on the display 560 can be controlled independently. For example, the remote view module 535 may allow the user to adjust the zoom and scroll the image of the remote application 327 within the remote application view 704 while the local view module 540 maintains the size and location of the local GUI 702 and 706 on the display 560. Thus, the local GUI 702 and 706 can remain on the display 560 and be readily accessible to the user while the user manipulates the image of the remote application within the remote application view 704.

In an aspect of the disclosure, the agent module 322 may instruct the application control module 325 to deactivate the GUI of the application 327 so that display output data of the application 327 sent to the client device 202 does not include the GUI of the application. For the example of the web browser 120 running on a server in FIG. 1B, the agent module 322 may deactivate the GUI 122 so that only the display of the web content 124 is sent to the client device 202. This allows a user at the client device 202 to view the web content 124 of the web browser 120 running on the server 204 while controlling the web browser 120 with the local GUI 702 and 706 instead of the remote application's GUI 122 running on the server 204.

The local GUI at the client device 202 is not limited to the example of a web browser application and may be used to remotely control many other applications on the server 204. Examples of applications that may be controlled by local GUIs include word processing applications, spread sheet applications, multi-media player applications, electronic mail applications, and other applications. For the example of a word processing application, the local GUI may include graphical control objects for print, edit, and formatting functions. For a multi-media player, the local GUI may include graphical control objects for play, stop and rewind functions.

In one aspect, the client device 202 may have a plurality of local GUIs for controlling different applications. In this aspect, when the user at the client device 202 remotely launches an application on the server 204, the agent module 322 may determine what type of application was launched. The agent module 322 may then send a message to the client device 202 via the server remote access module 334 indicating the type of application that was launched on the server 204. The client remote access module 452 sends the received message to the local view module 540. The local view module 540 may then select a local GUI from a plurality of local GUIs that matches the type of application indicated by the received message. The agent 322 may also send a configuration file to the client device 202 specifying the local GUI. Thus, the local view module 540 can change the local GUI to adapt to changes in the application running on the server 204.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating a server remote access module 334 and a client remote access module 452 according to an aspect of the disclosure. In one aspect, a server remote access module 334 comprises first and second server remote connection modules 1020 a and 1020 b and the client remote access module 452 comprises first and second client remote connection modules 1030 a and 1030 b. The first server remote connection module 1020 a and the first client remote connection module 1030 a communicate over connection 1025 a. The second server remote connection module 1020 b and the second client remote connection module 1030 b communicate over connection 1025 b. The connections 1025 a and 1025 b may be established between the server 204 and the client device 202 over a network 206 using different sockets. In this aspect, different types of information may be communicated over the different connections 1025 a and 1025 b.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the first server remote connection module 1020 a and the first client remote connection module 1030 a are implemented using a remote access application (e.g., RDP application) for communicating display output data and user inputs between the server 204 and the client device 202. The connection 1025 a may comprise a plurality of virtual channels with different virtual channels carrying display output data (e.g., images or audio output of a remote application) and user inputs (e.g., pointer and keyboard inputs from a user at a client device) between the server 204 and the client device 202.

The second server remote connection module 1020 b and the second client remote connection module 1030 b may be configured to communicate command messages over the connection 1025 b. In this aspect, the second client remote connection module 1030 b sends command messages from the local view module 540 to the server 204 over the connection 1025 b. The second client remote connection module 1020 b communicates the received command messages to the agent module 322. In this aspect, the agent module 322 may manage the connection 1025 b. In one aspect, the second remote connection module 1020 b may be integrated with the agent module 322. Thus, in this aspect, the command messages are communicated over a different connection than the display data and user inputs. An advantage of this aspect is that the command messages may be communicated using a different protocol than the display data and user inputs. For example, the display output data and user inputs may be communicated using a remote access protocol (e.g., RDP) while the command messages are communicated using a different protocol. For example, the command messages may be communicated using a protocol having different encryption, compression and/or security features than the remote access protocol.

FIG. 11 depicts an example of the connection 1025 a comprising multiple virtual channels 1120 a to 1120 c and the connection 1025 b. In this example, the connection 1025 a may be based on a remote access protocol (e.g., RDP) for communicating display output data and user inputs on different virtual channels 1120 a to 1120 c. The connection 1025 b is used to communicate command messages. Alternatively, the command messages may be sent over the connection 1025 a, in which case the second remote connection modules 1020 b and 1030 b may be omitted. For example, the command messages may be sent on a virtual channel of the connection 1025 a established for command messages. In an aspect, a command message may include a flag or other indicator identifying the message as a command message.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate merely examples of communications between a server and a client device. A server may include one or more remote connection modules (e.g., one, two, three or more), and a client device include one or more remote connection modules (e.g., one, two, three or more).

FIG. 12 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating an example of a system.

A system 1200 may be, for example, a client device or a server. The system 1200 includes a processing system 1202. The processing system 1202 is capable of communication with a receiver 1206 and a transmitter 1209 through a bus 1204 or other structures or devices. It should be understood that communication means other than busses can be utilized with the disclosed configurations. The processing system 1202 can generate audio, video, multimedia, and/or other types of data to be provided to the transmitter 1209 for communication. In addition, audio, video, multimedia, and/or other types of data can be received at the receiver 1206, and processed by the processing system 1202.

The processing system 1202 may include a general-purpose processor or a specific-purpose processor for executing instructions and may further include a machine-readable medium 1219, such as a volatile or non-volatile memory, for storing data and/or instructions for software programs. The instructions, which may be stored in a machine-readable medium 1210 and/or 1219, may be executed by the processing system 1202 to control and manage access to the various networks, as well as provide other communication and processing functions. The instructions may also include instructions executed by the processing system 1202 for various user interface devices, such as a display 1212 and a keypad 1214. The processing system 1202 may include an input port 1222 and an output port 1224. Each of the input port 1222 and the output port 1224 may include one or more ports. The input port 1222 and the output port 1224 may be the same port (e.g., a bi-directional port) or may be different ports.

The processing system 1202 may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination of both. By way of example, the processing system 102 may be implemented with one or more processors. A processor may be a general-purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a state machine, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable device that can perform calculations or other manipulations of information.

A machine-readable medium can be one or more machine-readable media. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, data, or any combination thereof, whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. Instructions may include code (e.g., in source code format, binary code format, executable code format, or any other suitable format of code).

Machine-readable media (e.g., 1219) may include storage integrated into a processing system, such as might be the case with an ASIC. Machine-readable media (e.g., 1210) may also include storage external to a processing system, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, or any other suitable storage device. In addition, machine-readable media may include a transmission line or a carrier wave that encodes a data signal. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality for the processing system 1202. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a machine-readable medium is a computer-readable medium encoded or stored with instructions and is a computing element, which defines structural and functional interrelationships between the instructions and the rest of the system, which permit the instructions' functionality to be realized. Instructions may be executable, for example, by a client device or server or by a processing system of a client device or server. Instructions can be, for example, a computer program including code.

An interface 1216 may be any type of interface and may reside between any of the components shown in FIG. 12. An interface 1216 may also be, for example, an interface to the outside world (e.g., an Internet network interface). A transceiver block 1207 may represent one or more transceivers, and each transceiver may include a receiver 1206 and a transmitter 1209. A functionality implemented in a processing system 1202 may be implemented in a portion of a receiver 1206, a portion of a transmitter 1209, a portion of a machine-readable medium 1210, a portion of a display 1212, a portion of a keypad 1214, or a portion of an interface 1216, and vice versa.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 through 5B and 8B, in one aspect of the disclosure, the agent module 322 may be configured to receive notification of events that occur at the server 204 from the OS module 324. For example, the OS module 324 may report certain events to the agent module 322 including when the client device 202 has logged onto the server 204, when an application is launched on the desktop, when a dialog box or new window is opened, when a textbox field is clicked, pointer movements, clicks (e.g., mouse clicks), and/or other events. To receive notification of events, the agent module 322 may register as an events handler with the OS module 324 to receive reports of certain events.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the agent module 322 may determine an action to be taken at the client device 202 based on the reported event. The agent module 322 may then generate a message based on the determined action and send the message to the client device 202 (e.g., via the server remote access module 334). For example, when the event is a click on a textbox, the agent module 322 may determine that a graphical keyboard is to be activated on the client device 202 and send a message to the client device 202 to activate the graphical keyboard 820 a. At the client device 202, the local view module 540 receives the message from the agent module 322 and performs an action based on the received message, as discussed further below. In the above example, the local view module 540 may bring up the graphical keyboard 820 a on the display 560 in response to the message.

Examples of events that may be reported to the agent module 322 and messages generated by the agent module 322 for the client device 202 based on the reported events are discussed further below.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the OS module 324 may report a click on a textbox to the agent module 322. This may occur, for example, when user inputs (e.g., pointer movements and a click) received from the client device 202 result in a textbox of the application 327 being clicked on. When this event occurs, the agent module 322 may determine that a graphical keyboard is to be activated on the client device 202 for the user at the client device 202 to enter text. The agent module 322 may then generate a message for the client device 202 including a command to bring up the graphical keyboard 820 a on the display 560 of the client device 202, and send the message to the client device 202 (e.g., via the server remote access module 334).

On the client side, the client remote access module 452 receives the message and sends the received message to the local view module 540. Upon reading the received message, the local view module 540 brings up the graphical keyboard 820 a on the display 560 of the client device 202 to allow the user at the client device 202 to enter text. An example of this is illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B.

FIG. 14A shows a display 560 at the client device 202, in which the remote application view 704 displays a web page of a remote web browser application 327. The web page includes a textbox 1310 (e.g., search textbox). In this example, the user at the client device 202 inputs user inputs (e.g., pointer movements and clicks) using a touch screen or other pointer input device at the client device 202. The remote view module 535 sends the user inputs to the server 202 (e.g., via the client remote access module 452). On the server side, the application control module 325 controls the web browser application 327 based on the received user inputs. Updated display output data of the web browser application 327 in response to the user inputs are sent to the client device 202. On the client side, the remote view module 535 updates the image in the remote application view 704 based on the received updated display output data.

On the server side, if a received pointer movement and click result in a textbox being click on, then the OS module 324 reports this event to the agent module 322. The agent module 322 determines that a graphical keyboard 802 a is to be activated at the client device 202 and generates a message for the client device 202 including a command to activate the graphical keyboard 820 a. The agent module 322 then sends the message to the client device 202. On the client side, the local view module 540 receives the message and brings up the graphical keyboard 820 a on the display 560 in response to the message. FIG. 14B shows the display 560 at the client device 202, in which the graphical keyboard 820 a is brought up on the display 560 after the textbox 1310 has been click on. An I-beam 1415 or other type of cursor may appear in the textbox 1310 to indicate that text will be entered into the textbox 1310.

As the user at the client device 202 inputs text using the graphical keyboard 820 a, the text inputs to the graphical keyboard 820 a may be directed to the remote view module 535, for example, as if the user had entered the text using a physical keyboard. The remote view module 535 may then send the user text inputs to the server 204 (e.g., using a RDP/ICA or other remote access protocol). On the server side, the application control module 325 enters the received text into the textbox. Updated display output data showing the inputted text in the textbox is then sent back to the client device 202. In this aspect, when the user at the client device 202 hits the enter button on the graphical keyboard 820 a after entering text, the local view module 540 may automatically deactivate the graphical keyboard 820 a.

An advantage of this aspect is that the graphical keyboard 820 a is automatically brought up on the display 560 when the textbox 1310 is clicked on without requiring the user at the client device 202 to hit the keyboard button 820. This is not possible in other approaches in which only display output data of the remote application 327 is sent to the client device 202. In these approaches, the client device 202 simply displays the display output of the remote application 327 and receives no information about when a textbox of the remote application is clicked on. By contrast, in the above aspect, the agent module 322 determines when the textbox has been clicked on and sends a message to the client device 202 to bring up the graphical keyboard 820 a.

In one aspect, the local view module 540 keeps track of the area of the display output of the remote application 327 that is currently displayed in the remote application view 704. FIG. 15A shows an exemplary area 1510 of the display output 1520 that may be displayed in the remote application view 704. In this example, the total area of the display output 1520 may represent what a user at the server 204 might see on a large display at the server 204. In this example, the server 202 may send the entire display output of the remote application 327 to the client device 204, and the client device 204 may store the entire display output in a machine-readable medium (e.g., cache memory).

The local view module 540 may then allow the user to manipulate the area 1510 of the display output that is displayed in the remote application view 704. For example, the local view module 540 may allow the user to zoom in by moving two fingers away from each other on a touch screen 565 starting at a desired zoom in location. The local view module 540 may also include zoom in and zoom out buttons on the local GUI 702 and 706. The local view module 540 may also display scrollbars on the display 560 that allow the user to scroll (up, down, left, right) the area 1510 of the display output 1520 displayed in the remote application view 704. FIG. 15B shows an example in which the area 1510 of the display output 1520 displayed in the remote application view 704 has been scrolled to the right. In this aspect, the local view module 540 may send a command to the remote view module 535 specifying which area 1510 of the display output 1520 to display in the remote application view 704 based on inputs from the user. The command may include coordinates and dimensions of the area 1510 to be displayed in the remote application view 704.

As discussed further below, the local view module 540 may keep track of the area 1510 of the display output 1520 displayed in the remote application view 704 to determine whether the user at the client device 202 can view certain events (e.g., a dialog box popup) communicated to the local view module 540 by the agent module 322.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the OS module 324 may report to the agent module 322 when a dialog box and/or window opens as a result of user inputs (e.g., pointer movements and clicks) received from the client device 202. For example, a dialog box may open when a pointer is moved over an object (e.g., icon) and/or when a object is clicked on. The dialog box may display information to the user and/or request information from the user. For an example of a web browser application 327, a new browser window may open when the user clicks on a link.

When the OS module 324 reports that a dialog box and/or window has opened, the agent module 322 may determine that the dialog box and/or window is to be displayed to the user at the client device 202. In this aspect, the OS module 324 may also communicate the coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box or window to the agent module 322. The agent module 322 may then generate a message for the client device 202 including the coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box or window. The agent module 322 may then send the message to the client device 202 (e.g., via the server remote access module 334).

On the client side, the client remote access module 452 receives the message and sends the received message to the local view module 540. Upon reading the received message, the local view module 540 may determine whether the newly opened dialog box or window is currently shown in the remote application view 704. The local view module 540 may do this, for example, by comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box or window with the coordinates and dimensions of the area 1510 of the display output 1520 displayed in the remote application view 704. If the dialog box or window is not currently shown in the remote application view 704, then the local view module 540 may command the remote view module 535 to scroll and/or zoom out the remote application view 704 by a certain amount so that the dialog box or window is shown in the remote application view 704. The local view module 540 may determine the amount that the remote application view 704 needs to be scrolled and/or zoomed out based on differences between the coordinates and/or dimensions of the dialog box or window and the coordinates and/or dimensions of the area 1510 of the remote application view 704. An example of this is shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B.

FIG. 16A shows an example in which a dialog box or window 1610 opens outside the area 1510 of the remote application view 704. As a result, the user at the client device 202 cannot see the dialog box or window 1610. For example, the dialog box 1610 may require certain information (e.g., billing information) from the user to continue with a transaction (e.g., purchase). In this example, if the user cannot see the dialog box 1610 at the client device 204, then the user may be unaware that information is being requested.

In this example, the agent module 322 may send the coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box 1610 to the local view module 540 on the client side. The local view module 540 may then determine that the dialog box 1610 is not displayed in the remote application view 704. After making this determination, the local view module 540 may command the remote view module 535 to scroll the remote application view 704 so that the dialog box 1610 is shown in the remote application view 704. FIG. 16B shows an example in which the area 1510 of the remote application view 704 has been scrolled to the right so that the dialog box 1610 is shown in the remote application view 704. The local view module 540 may also command the remote view module 535 to zoom out the remote application view 704 so that the dialog box 1610 is shown in the remote application view 704. This advantageously allows the user at the client 204 to view the dialog box 1610 in order to receive information in the dialog box 1610 and/or enter information requested by the dialog box 1610.

In one aspect, the local view module 540 may notify the user at the client device 202 when a dialog box or window 1610 opens outside the area 1510 of the remote application view 704. In this aspect, the local view module 540 may display an arrow or other indicator on the display 560 indicating the direction of the dialog box or window 1610. The user may then choose whether to scroll the remote view application 704 in the indicated direction to view the dialog box or window 1610.

In one aspect, the OS module 324 may also report to the agent module 322 when the dialog box or window closes. For example, a dialog box may close when the user has entered information requested by the dialog box. In this aspect, the agent module 322 may send a message to the local view module 540 indicating that the dialog box or window has closed. The local view module 540 may then command the remote view module 535 to return the area 1510 of the remote application view 704 back to its original location before the dialog box or window was opened. In other words, the local view module 540 may undo the scrolling and/or zooming when the dialog box or window closes.

In one aspect, the OS module 324 may also report to the agent module 322 when a new web page is loaded in a web browser application 327. The agent module 322 may then send a message to the local view module 540 informing the local view module 540 that a new web page has been loaded. The local view module 540 may then command the remote view module 535 to zoom out the remote application view 704 to show substantially the entire display output 1520. This aspect automatically gives the user at the client device 202 an overview of content in the newly loaded web page. The user may then decide to zoom and/or scroll the remote application view 704 to focus on a desired portion of the new web page.

In one aspect, the OS module 324 may report the current coordinates (e.g., x-y coordinates) of the pointer to the agent module 322. The coordinates of the pointer may refer to coordinates of a pointer moved by the user at the client device 202 using a pointer input device or coordinates of a location where the user touches a display 560 at the client device 202 (e.g., using a touch screen overlaying the display 560). The agent module 322 may use the current coordinates of the pointer to determine whether the pointer is on an object (e.g., picture) in the application 327. The agent module 322 may do this, for example, by determining the coordinates and dimensions of objects in the application 327 and comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the objects with the reported coordinates of the pointer.

For an example of a web browser application 327, the agent module 322 may determine the coordinates (e.g., x-y coordinates) and dimensions (e.g., width and height) of objects (e.g., pictures, icons, animations, banners, etc.) in a web page by analyzing markup language code (e.g., HTML, XML, etc.) for the web page. The agent module 322 may receive the markup language code from the application control module 325. The markup language code for the web page may identify objects in the web page and their locations in the web page. The markup language code may also provide attributes for each object including object type (e.g., picture) and dimensions (e.g., height and width) of the object. The agent module 322 may use this information to determine the types of objects in the web page and the coordinates and dimensions of the objects in the web page. The agent module 322 may make this determination each time a new web page is loaded into the web browser application 327.

In this aspect, when the agent module 322 determines that the pointer is on an object in the application, then the agent module 322 may determine that substantially the entire object is to be displayed at the client device 202. The agent module 322 may then send a message to the client device 202 including information of the object. The information may include object type (e.g., picture) and the coordinates and dimensions of the object. On the client side, the local view module 540 may receive the coordinates and dimensions of the object and use the received coordinates and dimensions of the object to determine whether substantially the entire object is shown in the remote application view 704. The local view module 540 may do this, for example, by comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the object with the coordinates and dimensions of the area 1510 of the remote application view 704.

If the local view module 540 determines that substantially the entire object is not shown in the remote application view 704, then the local view module 540 may command the remote view module 535 to scroll and/or zoom the remote application view module 535 by a certain amount to show substantially the entire object. The local view module 540 may determine the amount based on differences between the coordinates and dimensions of the object and the coordinates and dimensions of the area 1510 of the remote application view 704. An example of this is illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a display 560 at the client device 202, in which the remote application view 704 displays a web page on the remote web browser application 327. The web page includes an object 1710 (e.g., a picture). In this example, only a small portion of the object 1720 is shown in the remote application view 704 and a pointer 1705 is placed on the object 1710. FIG. 19A shows the portions of the object 1710 that are within and outside the area 1510 of the remote application view 704.

On the server side, the agent module 322 determines that the pointer 1705 is on the object 1720 based on the coordinates of the pointer reported from the OS module 324 and the coordinates and dimensions of objects in the web page. The agent module 322 then generates a message for the client device 202 including the coordinates and dimensions of the object 1710, and sends the message to the client device 202.

On the client side, the local view module 540 receives the message and determines whether substantially the entire object 1710 is shown in the remote application view 704. In this example, the local view module 540 determines that only a small portion of the object 1710 is shown in the remote application view 704. The local view module 540 then commands the remote view module 535 to scroll the remote application view 704 to the left so that substantially the entire object 1710 is shown the remote application view 704. FIG. 18 shows an example of the display 560 after the remote application view 704 has been scrolled to the left to show the entire object 1710 in the remote application view 704. FIG. 19B shows that, after scrolling to the left, the entire object 1710 is within the area 1510 of the remote application view 704.

In one aspect, the local view module 540 may also zoom in on the object 1710. For example, the local view module 540 may also command the remote view module 535 to zoom in on the object 1710 in the remote application view 704. For example, the local view module 540 may center the object 1710 in the remote application view 704 and maximize the size of the object 1710 in the remote application view 704.

An advantage of this aspect is that, when the user shows an interest in an object by moving a pointer to the object or touching the object using a touch screen, substantially the entire object is automatically shown in the remote application view 704. Thus, the user does not have to scroll and/or zoom out to see the rest of the object of interest.

In another example, the object 1710 may be a video. In this example, the video file for the object 1710 may be downloaded from a uniform resource locator (URL) and played using a media player application. The URL for the video file may be included in markup language code for a web page or other source.

In this example, the agent module 322 on the server side may determine when the pointer is on the object 1710 and/or clicks on the object 1710 based on coordinates of the pointer and/or pointer clicks reported from the OS module 324. The agent module 322 may then generate a message including the URL for the video file, and send the message to the client device 202.

On the client side, the local view module 540 receives the message, retrieves the URL for the video file from the message, and downloads the video file onto the client device 202 from the URL. In this example, the client remote access module 452 may establish a connection with the Internet or other network, and the local view module 540 may download the video file from the URL through the connection. After the video file is downloaded or while the video file is downloading, the local view module 540 may launch a local media player application on the client device 202 and play the video file using the local media player application. The local view module 540 may then display the output of the local media player application on the display 650. For example, the local view module 540 may display the output of the local view module 540 over the remote application view 704.

A process for establishing a remote session on the server 204 for a user at the client device 202 will now be discussed according to an aspect of the disclosure. When the user at the client device 202 desires to remotely access a remote server, the local view module 540 may display a plurality of remote servers from which the user can select on the display 560. For each available remote server, the client device 202 may store an address (e.g., IP address) and user credentials (e.g., login name and password) for the server. The user may then select one of the remote servers on the display 560, for example, using a touch screen overlaying the display 560.

When the user selects a remote server, the client remote access module 452 may initiate a remote access connection 525 with the server remote access module 334 of the server 204. To do this, the client remote access module 452 may send a request for remote access to the server 204 (e.g., over a TCP/IP network connection using an IP address of the server 204). The request may include user credentials (e.g., login name and password). If the user credentials are accepted, then the server remote access module 334 of the server 204 establishes a remote session for the client device 202, providing the client device 202 with remote access to the server 204.

In one aspect, the OS module 324 may notify the agent module 322 that a remote session has been established for the client device 202. The agent module 322 may then send a message to the client device 202, via the server remote access module 334, informing the client device 202 that the agent module 322 is active and ready to accept command messages from the client device 202. On the client side, the client remote access module 452 may send the message to the local view module 540. Upon receiving the message, the local view module 540 may send an acknowledgement to the server 204. On the server side, the server remote access module 334 may send the acknowledgement to the agent module 322. This process may be used to initialize communication between the agent module 322 and the local view module 540.

After initializing communication with the agent module 322, the local view module 540 may display a plurality of applications that are available on the server 204. The local view module 540 may display a list of the available applications in a menu on the display 560 and the user may select a desired one of the applications, for example, using a touch screen. FIG. 20 shows an example of a local GUI 2006 listing applications that are available on the server 204. The local GUI 2006 is locally generated and not generated from display output data from the server 204.

When the user selects an application, the local view module 540 may generate a command message identifying the selected application and send the command message to the server 204 via the client remote access module 452. On the server side, the server remote access module 334 may send the command to the agent module 322. The agent module 322 may then issue a command to the OS module 324 to launch the identified application 327 on the server 204. The agent module 322 may also command the application control module 325 to maximize the size of the display output of the application 327.

The server remote access module 334 may then send display output data of the application 327 to the client device 202. On the client side, the local view module 540 may display a local GUI 702 and 706 for the selected application on the display 560. The local view module 540 may also translate user inputs to the local GUI 702 and 706 into corresponding command messages and send the command message to the agent module 322, as discussed above.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the desktop module 328 may generate a desktop on the server 204. The desktop may include icons of available applications that can be selected and launched on the server 204. In one aspect, the desktop module 328 may be integrated with the operating system 330 (e.g., Windows-based operating system).

In this aspect, the server remote access module 334 may send display output data of the desktop to the client device 202. On the client side, the remote view module 535 may display the remote desktop in the remote application view 704 on the display 560. FIG. 21 shows an example of a remote desktop 2110 displayed in the remote application view 704 at the client device 202. The remote desktop 2110 includes icons 2115 of applications that can be launched on the server 204 and a taskbar 2120.

In this aspect, the user at the client device 202 may select an application on the remote desktop displayed in the remote application view 704, for example, by moving a pointer 2125 to the icon 2115 of a desired application and clicking on the icon 2115 using a pointer input device. The remote view module 535 may then send the entered user inputs (e.g., pointer movements and clicks) to the server 202. On the server side, the server remote access module 334 may input the received user inputs to the desktop module 328. When received user inputs to the desktop result in an application being launched on the server 204, the OS module 324 may inform the agent module 322. The agent module 322 may then generate a message identifying the launched application and send the message to the client device 204 (e.g., via the server remote access module 334).

On the client side, the client remote access module 452 may send the message to the local view module 540. The local view module 540 may then display a local GUI 702 and 706 for the identified application on the display 560. For example, the client device 202 may store configuration files for a plurality of local GUIs for different applications. The local view module 540 may then retrieve the configuration file 451 for the local GUI 702 and 706 corresponding to the application identified in the received message and generate the local GUI based on the retrieved configuration file 451. The local view module 540 may then display the local GUI 702 and 706 on the display 560 to allow the user to remotely control the application 327 on the server 204, as discussed above.

In this aspect, the local view module 540 may also generate a local GUI for the user at the client device 202 to control the remote desktop at the server 204. For example, the local GUI for the remote desktop may allow the user to select a background for the desktop, hide a taskbar of the desktop, and other functions. In another example, the local GUI for the remote desktop may allow the user to minimize, resize, hide and/or move a window for an application on the remote desktop. When the user enters user inputs to the local GUI for the remote desktop, then the local view module 540 may translate the user inputs into a command message for the remote desktop. For example, the local view module 540 may translate user inputs to a graphical control object (e.g., hide taskbar button) on the local GUI into a command message to hide the taskbar. The local view module 540 may send the command message to the server 204 via the client remote access module 452. On the server side, the server remote access module 334 may send the command message to the agent module 322. The agent module 322 may then issue a command to the desktop module 328 based on the received command message. For example, when the received command message is to hide the taskbar, then the agent module 322 may issue a command to the desktop module 328 to hide the taskbar.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual block diagram of the agent module 322 according to an aspect of the disclosure. In this aspect, the agent module 322 comprising a master agent module 2222 and a plurality of slave agent modules 2224-1 to 2224-3. The agent module 322 may include any number of slave agent modules 2224-1 to 2224-3. In this aspect, each slave module agent 2224-1 to 2224-3 may be configured to control a particular application module 326-1 to 326-3 based on command messages from the client device 202. The master agent module 2222 may be configured to receive a command message from the client device 202 (via the server remote access module 334) and direct the command message to one of the slave agent modules 2224-1 to 2224-3.

In one aspect, there may be a number of applications 327-1 to 327-3 running on the server 204, in which each of the corresponding application modules 326-1 to 326-3 is controlled by one of the slave agent modules 2224-1 to 2224-2. In this aspect, the OS module 324 may notify the master agent module 2222 which one of the applications 327-1 to 327-3 is currently in focus on the server 204. For example, an application 327-2 to 327-3 may be in focus when an active pointer, cursor or I-beam appears in the window of the application 327-2 to 327-3. The master agent module 2222 may then direct command messages from the client device 202 to the slave agent module 2224-1 to 2224-3 corresponding to the application 327-1 to 327-3 currently in focus.

In one aspect, the user the client device 202 may indicate which one of a plurality of applications 327-1 to 327-3 currently running on the server 202 he or she desires to access at a given time. For example, the local view module 540 may display a taskbar in the local GUI 702 and 704 indicating which application are currently running on the server 204. In this aspect, the OS module 324 may notify the master agent module 2222 which applications are running on the server 204 and the master agent may send a message to the client device 202 identifying these applications. The local view module 540 may then generate a local taskbar identifying these applications based on the message. When the user selects an application from the taskbar (e.g., using a touch screen), the local view module 540 may send a command message to the server 204 identifying the application.

On the server side, the server remote access module 334 may send the command message to the master agent module 2222. The master agent module 2222 may then send a command to the desktop module 328 to maximize the selected application and minimize or hide the other applications running on the server 204 so that the display output from the sever 204 to the client device 202 only shows the selected application. The master agent module 2222 may then direct subsequent command messages from the client device 202 to the slave agent module 2224-1 to 224-3 corresponding to the selected application 327-1 to 327-3.

The subject technology is illustrated, for example, according to various aspects described below. Numbered clauses are provided below for convenience. These are provided as examples, and do not limit the subject technology.

1. A system for rendering at a local client side a composite view including a local graphical user interface and a remote application view associated with a remote application running at a remote server, comprising:

-   -   a local view module configured to generate a local graphical         user interface (GUI) for controlling the remote application         remotely from the local client side, configured to receive one         or more user inputs to the local GUI, configured to determine a         function corresponding to the one or more user inputs,         configured to generate a command message based on the determined         function, and configured to direct the command message to the         remote server;     -   a remote view module configured to generate a remote application         view of the remote application based on display output data of         the remote application received at the local client side from         the remote server; and     -   a display module configured to provide, to a local display at         the local client side, a composite view comprising the local GUI         and the remote application view of the remote application.

2. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to receive a message identifying a type of application running on the remote server and to select the local GUI from a plurality of local GUIs based on the received message.

3. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to be controlled dynamically by the remote server to generate the local GUI based on the application running on the remote server.

4. The system of clause 1, wherein the remote view module is configured to direct user inputs within the remote application view to the remote server.

5. The system of clause 4, wherein the user inputs from the remote view module comprise pointer inputs, keyboard inputs or finger inputs (e.g., gestures).

6. The system of clause 1, wherein the display output data includes an image or drawing commands of a display output of the remote application.

7. The system of clause 1, wherein the one or more user inputs to the local GUI include coordinates of a pointer or a user's touch on the local display, and the local view module is configured to determine the function based on a graphical control object of the local GUI corresponding to the coordinates of the pointer or the user's touch on the local display.

8. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to control a size and a location of the local GUI on the local display independently from the remote application view of the remote application.

9. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to direct the command message to the remote server through a remote access module at the local client side.

10. The system of clause 9, wherein the remote access module is configured to communicate with the remote server over a first connection and a second connection via different socket connections, to receive the display output data of the remote application and to send user inputs over the first connection and to send the command message over the second connection.

11. The system of clause 9, wherein the remote access module is configured to communicate with the remote server over a plurality of virtual channels, to send user inputs over a first one of the plurality of virtual channels and to send the command message over a second one of the plurality of virtual channels.

12. A method for rendering at a local client side a composite view including a local graphical user interface and a remote application view associated with a remote application running at a remote server, comprising:

-   -   generating a local graphical user interface (GUI) for remotely         controlling the remote application from the local client device         (e.g., 1310-A of FIG. 13A);     -   generating a remote view of the remote application based on         display output data of the remote application received at the         local client device from the remote server (e.g., 1320-A);     -   providing, to a local display, a composite view comprising the         local GUI and the remote view of the remote application (e.g.,         1330-A);     -   determining a function based on one or more user inputs to the         local GUI (e.g., 1340-A);     -   generating a command message based on the determined function         (e.g., 1350-A); and     -   directing the command message to the remote server (e.g.,         1360-A).

13. The method of clause 12, further comprising:

-   -   receiving a message identifying a type of application running on         the remote server; and     -   selecting the local GUI from a plurality of local GUIs based on         the received message.

14. The method of clause 12, further comprising directing user inputs within the remote application view to the remote server.

15. The method of clause 14, wherein the user inputs from the remote view module comprise pointer inputs or keyboard inputs.

16. The method of clause 12, wherein the display output data includes an image or drawing commands of a display output of the remote application.

17. The method of clause 12, wherein the one or more user inputs to the local GUI include coordinates of a pointer or a user's touch on the local display, and the determining the function based on the one or more user inputs comprises:

-   -   determining the function based on a graphical control object of         the local GUI corresponding to the coordinates of the pointer or         the user's touch on the local display.

18. The method of clause 12, further comprising controlling a size and a location of the local GUI on the local display independently from the remote application view of the remote application.

19. The method of clause 12, wherein the directing the command message to the remote server comprises directing the command message to the remote server through a remote access module at the local client side.

20. The method of clause 19, further comprising:

-   -   communicating with the remote server over a first connection and         a second connection via different socket connections; and     -   sending user inputs over the first connection,     -   wherein the receiving the display output data comprises         receiving the display output data of the remote application over         the first connection, and the directing the command message to         the remote server comprises sending the command message over the         second connection.

21. The method of clause 19, further comprising:

-   -   communicating with the remote server over a plurality of virtual         channels; and     -   sending user inputs over a first one of the plurality of virtual         channels,     -   wherein the directing the command message to the remote server         comprises sending the command message over a second one of the         plurality of virtual channels.

22. A machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for rendering at a local client side a composite view including a local graphical user interface and a remote application view associated with a remote application running at a remote server, the instructions comprising code for:

-   -   generating a local graphical user interface (GUI) for remotely         controlling the remote application from the local client device;     -   generating a remote view of the remote application based on         display output data of the remote application received at the         local client device from the remote server;     -   providing, to a local display, a composite view comprising the         local GUI and the remote view of the remote application;     -   determining a function based on one or more user inputs to the         local GUI;     -   generating a command message based on the determined function;         and     -   directing the command message to the remote server.

23. The machine-readable medium of clause 22, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving a message identifying a type of application running on         the remote server; and     -   selecting the local GUI from a plurality of local GUIs based on         the received message.

24. The machine-readable medium of clause 22, wherein the instructions further comprise code for directing user inputs within the remote application view to the remote server.

25. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the user inputs from the remote view module comprise pointer inputs, keyboard inputs, or finger inputs (e.g., touch inputs).

26. The machine-readable medium of clause 22, wherein the display output data includes an image or drawing commands of a display output of the remote application.

27. The machine-readable medium of clause 22, wherein the one or more user inputs to the local GUI include coordinates of a pointer or a user's touch on the local display, and the determining the function based on the one or more user inputs comprises:

-   -   determining the function based on a graphical control object of         the local GUI corresponding to the coordinates of the pointer or         the user's touch on the local display.

28. The machine-readable medium of clause 22, wherein the instructions further comprise code for controlling a size and a location of the local GUI on the local display independently from the remote application view of the remote application.

29. The machine-readable medium of clause 22, wherein directing the command message to the remote server comprises directing the command message to the remote server through a remote access module at the local client side.

30. The machine-readable medium of clause 29, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   communicating with the remote server over a first connection and         a second connection via different socket connections; and     -   sending user inputs over the first connection,     -   wherein the receiving the display output data comprises         receiving the display output data of the remote application over         the first connection, and the directing the command message to         the remote server comprises sending the command message over the         second connection.

31. The machine-readable medium of clause 29, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   communicating with the remote server over a plurality of virtual         channels; and     -   sending user inputs over a first one of the plurality of virtual         channels,     -   wherein the directing the command message to the remote server         comprises sending the command message over a second one of the         plurality of virtual channels.

32. An apparatus for rendering at a local client side a composite view including a local graphical user interface and a remote application view associated with a remote application running at a remote server, comprising:

-   -   means for generating a local graphical user interface (GUI) for         remotely controlling the remote application from the local         client device (e.g., 1310-B of FIG. 13B);     -   means for generating a remote view of the remote application         based on display output data of the remote application received         at the local client device from the remote server (e.g.,         1320-B);     -   means for providing, to a local display, a composite view         comprising the local GUI and the remote view of the remote         application (e.g., 1330-B);     -   means for determining a function based on one or more user         inputs to the local GUI (e.g., 1340-B);     -   means for generating a command message based on the determined         function (e.g., 1350-B); and     -   means for directing the command message to the remote server         (e.g., 1360-B).

33. The apparatus of clause 32, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving a message identifying a type of application         running on the remote server; and     -   means for selecting the local GUI from a plurality of local GUIs         based on the received message.

34. The apparatus of clause 32, further comprising means for directing user inputs within the remote application view to the remote server.

35. The apparatus of clause 34, wherein the user inputs from the remote view module comprise pointer inputs or keyboard inputs.

36. The apparatus of clause 32, wherein the display output data includes an image or drawing commands of a display output of the remote application.

37. The apparatus of clause 32, wherein the one or more user inputs to the local GUI include coordinates of a pointer or a user's touch on the local display, and the means for determining the function based on the one or more user inputs comprising:

-   -   means for determining the function based on a graphical control         object of the local GUI corresponding to the coordinates of the         pointer or the user's touch on the local display.

38. The apparatus of clause 32, further comprising means for controlling a size and a location of the local GUI on the local display independently from the remote application view of the remote application.

39. The apparatus of clause 32, wherein the means for directing the command message to the remote server comprises means for directing the command message to the remote server through a remote access module at the local client side.

40. The apparatus of clause 39, further comprising:

-   -   means for communicating with the remote server over a first         connection and a second connection via different socket         connections; and     -   means for sending user inputs over the first connection,     -   wherein the means for receiving the display output data         comprises means for receiving the display output data of the         remote application over the first connection, and the means for         directing the command message to the remote server comprises         means for sending the command message over the second         connection.

41. The apparatus of clause 39, further comprising:

-   -   means for communicating with the remote server over a plurality         of virtual channels; and     -   means for sending user inputs over a first one of the plurality         of virtual channels,     -   wherein the means for directing the command message to the         remote server comprises means for sending the command message         over a second one of the plurality of virtual channels.

The subject technology is illustrated, for example, according to various aspects described below. Numbered clauses are provided below for convenience. These are provided as examples, and do not limit the subject technology.

1. A system for communication and for providing, to a remote client device, a message related to an event at a server, in which the event is in response to one or more user inputs received from the remote client device, comprising:

-   -   an agent module configured to receive notification of the event         at the server, configured to determine an action, based on the         event, to be performed by the remote client device on a         graphical user interface (GUI) at the remote client device or a         remote view at the remote client device, configured to generate         the message based on the determined action, and configured to         direct the message to the remote client device,     -   wherein the GUI is a GUI for controlling an application running         on the server from the remote client device, and the remote view         is a view of the application running on the server.

2. The system of clause 1, wherein the event comprises a click on a textbox, the action is to activate a graphical keyboard of the GUI at the remote client device, and the message comprises a command to activate the graphical keyboard.

3. The system of clause 1, wherein the event comprises a window opening at the server, the action is to display the window within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the window.

4. The system of clause 1, wherein the event comprises a pointer on an object of the application at the server, the action is to display substantially the entire object within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the object.

5. The system of clause 4, wherein the object comprises a picture, an icon, an animation, or video.

6. The system of clause 1, wherein the event comprises a pointer click on a video object, the action is to play a video file associated with the video object at the remote client device, and the message comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) for downloading the video file.

7. The system of clause 1, wherein the event comprises a dialog box opening at the server, the action is to display the dialog box within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box.

8. The system of clause 7, wherein the agent module is configured to receive notification of when the dialog box closes at the server, configured to generate a second message informing the remote client device that the dialog box has closed, and directing the second message to the remote client device.

9. The system of clause 1, wherein the agent module is configured to receive a command message from the remote client device and configured to control the application on the server based on the received command message.

10. The system of clause 9, wherein the agent module is configured to resize, move or maximize a view of the application on the server based on the received command message.

11. The system of clause 1, wherein the agent module comprises:

-   -   a plurality of slave agent modules, wherein each of the slave         agent modules is configured to control one of a plurality of         different applications on the server based on command messages         from the remote client device; and     -   a master agent module configured to direct command messages,         from the remote client device, for one of the plurality of         different applications to a corresponding one of the plurality         of slave agent modules.

12. The system of clause 1, wherein the system is the server comprising a processing system.

13. A method performed at a server for providing, to a remote client device, a message related to an event at the server, in which the event is in response to one or more user inputs received from the remote client device, comprising:

-   -   receiving notification of the event at the server (e.g., 2310-A         of FIG. 23A);     -   determining an action, based on the event, to be performed by         the remote client device on a graphical user interface (GUI) at         the remote client device or a remote view at the remote client         device (e.g., 2320-A);     -   generating the message based on the determined action (e.g.,         2330-A); and     -   directing the message to the remote client device (e.g.,         2340-A),     -   wherein the GUI is a GUI for controlling an application running         on the server from the remote client device, and the remote view         is a view of the application running on the server.

14. The method of clause 13, wherein the event comprises a click on a textbox, the action is to activate a graphical keyboard of the GUI at the remote client device, and the message comprises a command to activate the graphical keyboard.

15. The method of clause 13, wherein the event comprises a window opening at the server, the action is to display the window within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the window.

16. The method of clause 13, wherein the event comprises a pointer on an object of the application at the server, the action is to display substantially the entire object within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the object.

17. The method of clause 16, wherein the object comprises a picture, an icon, an animation, or video.

18. The method of clause 13, wherein the event comprises a pointer click on a video object, the action is to play a video file associated with the video object at the remote client device, and the message comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) for downloading the video file.

19. The method of clause 13, wherein the event comprises a dialog box opening at the server, the action is to display the dialog box within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box.

20. The method of clause 19, further comprising:

-   -   receiving notification of when the dialog box closes at the         server;     -   generating a second message informing the remote client device         that the dialog box has closed; and     -   directing the second message to the remote client device.

21. The method of clause 13, further comprising:

-   -   receiving a command message from the remote client device; and     -   controlling the application on the server based on the received         command message.

22. The method of clause 21, further comprising:

-   -   resizing, moving or maximizing a view of the application on the         server based on the received command message.

23. The method of clause 13, further comprising:

-   -   receiving command messages from the remote client devices;     -   directing the received command messages to one of a plurality of         different applications on the server; and     -   controlling the one of the plurality of different applications         on the server based on the received command messages.

24. A machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for providing, to a remote client device, a message related to an event at a server, in which the event is in response to one or more user inputs received from the remote client device, the instructions comprising code for:

-   -   receiving notification of the event at the server;     -   determining an action, based on the event, to be performed by         the remote client device on a graphical user interface (GUI) at         the remote client device or a remote view at the remote client         device;     -   generating the message based on the determined action; and     -   directing the message to the remote client device,     -   wherein the GUI is a GUI for controlling an application running         on the server from the remote client device, and the remote view         is a view of the application running on the server.

25. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the event comprises a click on a textbox, the action is to activate a graphical keyboard of the GUI at the remote client device, and the message comprises a command to activate the graphical keyboard.

26. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the event comprises a window opening at the server, the action is to display the window within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the window.

27. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the event comprises a pointer on an object of the application at the server, the action is to display substantially the entire object within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the object.

28. The machine-readable medium of clause 27, wherein the object comprises a picture, an icon, an animation, or video.

29. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the event comprises a pointer click on a video object, the action is to play a video file associated with the video object at the remote client device, and the message comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) for downloading the video file.

30. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the event comprises a dialog box opening at the server, the action is to display the dialog box within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box.

31. The machine-readable medium of clause 30, wherein the instructions further comprises code for:

-   -   receiving notification of when the dialog box closes at the         server;     -   generating a second message informing the remote client device         that the dialog box has closed; and     -   directing the second message to the remote client device.

32. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving a command message from the remote client device; and     -   controlling the application on the server based on the received         command message.

33. The machine-readable medium of clause 32, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   resizing, moving or maximizing a view of the application on the         server based on the received command message.

34. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving command messages from the remote client devices;     -   directing the received command messages to one of a plurality of         different applications on the server; and     -   controlling the one of the plurality of different applications         on the server based on received command messages.

35. An apparatus for providing, to a remote client device, a message related to an event at the server, in which the event is in response to one or more user inputs received from the remote client device, comprising:

-   -   means for receiving notification of the event at the server         (e.g., 2310-B of FIG. 23B);     -   means for determining an action, based on the event, to be         performed by the remote client device on a graphical user         interface (GUI) at the remote client device or a remote view at         the remote client device (e.g., 2320-B);     -   means for generating the message based on the determined action         (e.g., 2330-B); and     -   means for directing the message to the remote client device         (e.g., 2340-B),     -   wherein the GUI is a GUI for controlling an application running         on the server from the remote client device, and the remote view         is a view of the application running on the server.

36. The apparatus of clause 35, wherein the event comprises a click on a textbox, the action is to activate a graphical keyboard of the GUI at the remote client device, and the message comprises a command to activate the graphical keyboard.

37. The apparatus of clause 35, wherein the event comprises a window opening at the server, the action is to display the window within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the window.

38. The apparatus of clause 35, wherein the event comprises a pointer on an object of the application at the server, the action is to display substantially the entire object within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the object.

39. The apparatus of clause 38, wherein the object comprises a picture, an icon, an animation, or video.

40. The apparatus of clause 35, wherein the event comprises a pointer click on a video object, the action is to play a video file associated with the video object at the remote client device, and the message comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) for downloading the video file.

41. The apparatus of clause 35, wherein the event comprises a dialog box opening at the server, the action is to display the dialog box within the remote view at the remote client device, and the message comprises coordinates and dimensions of the dialog box.

42. The apparatus of clause 41, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving notification of when the dialog box closes         at the server;     -   means for generating a second message informing the remote         client device that the dialog box has closed; and     -   means for directing the second message to the remote client         device.

43. The apparatus of clause 35, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving a command message from the remote client         device; and     -   means for controlling the application on the server based on the         received command message.

44. The apparatus of clause 43, further comprising:

-   -   means for resizing, moving or maximizing a view of the         application on the server based on the received command message.

45. The apparatus of clause 35, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving command messages from the remote client         devices;     -   means for directing the received command messages to one of a         plurality of different applications on the server; and     -   means for controlling the one of the plurality of different         applications on the server based on the received command         messages.

The subject technology is illustrated, for example, according to various aspects described below. Numbered clauses are provided below for convenience. These are provided as examples, and do not limit the subject technology.

1. A system for communication and for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a local graphical user interface (GUI) and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising:

-   -   a remote view module configured to generate the remote view of         the remote application based on display output data of the         remote application received at the local client device from the         remote server;     -   a local view module configured to generate the local GUI for         controlling the remote application remotely from the local         client device, configured to control an area of the display         output data of the remote application that is displayed in the         remote view, and configured to keep track of coordinates and         dimensions of the area; and     -   a display module configured to provide, to a local display at         the local client device, a composite view comprising the local         GUI and the remote view of the remote application.

2. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to receive a message from the remote server including a command to activate a graphical keyboard of the local GUI at the local client device and configured to active the graphical keyboard in response to the received message.

3. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to receive coordinates and dimensions of a window or dialog box at the remote server from the remote server, configured to compare the coordinates and dimensions of the window or dialog box with the coordinates and dimensions of the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view, and configured to adjust the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view based on the comparison.

4. The system of clause 3, wherein the local view module is configured to adjust the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view by scrolling the area.

5. The system of clause 3, wherein the local view module is configured to adjust the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view by zooming in or zooming out the area.

6. The system of clause 3, wherein the local view module is configured to receive a second message from the remote server that the window or dialog box has been closed at the remote server and configured to undo the adjustment of the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view in response to the second message.

7. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to receive coordinates and dimensions of an object of the remote application from the remote server, configured to compare the coordinates and dimensions of the object with the coordinates and dimensions of the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view, and configured to adjust the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view based on the comparison.

8. The system of clause 7, wherein the local view module is configured to adjust the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view such that substantially the entire object is displayed in the remote view.

9. The system of clause 8, wherein the local view module is configured to adjust the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view by scrolling the area.

10. The system of clause 8, wherein the local view module is configured to adjust the area of the display output displayed in the remote view by zooming in or zooming out the area.

11. The system of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to receive a uniform resource locator (URL) from the remote server, configured to download a video file using the URL, and configured to play the video file using a local media player application.

12. The system of clause 1, wherein the system is the local client device comprising a processing system.

13. A method for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a local graphical user interface (GUI) and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising:

-   -   generating the remote view of the remote application based on         display output data of the remote application received at the         local client device from the remote server (e.g., 2410-A of FIG.         24A);     -   generating the local GUI for controlling the remote application         remotely from the local client device (e.g., 2420-A);     -   controlling an area of the display output data of the remote         application that is displayed in the remote view (e.g., 2430-A);     -   tracking coordinates and dimensions of the area (e.g., 2440-A);         and     -   providing, to a local display at the local client device, a         composite view comprising the local GUI and the remote view of         the remote application (e.g., 2450-A).

14. The method of clause 13, further comprising:

-   -   receiving a message from the remote server including a command         to activate a graphical keyboard of the local GUI at the local         client device; and     -   activating the graphical keyboard in response to the received         message.

15. The method of clause 13, further comprising:

-   -   receiving coordinates and dimensions of a window or dialog box         at the remote server from the remote server;     -   comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the window or dialog         box with the coordinates and dimensions of the area of the         display output data displayed in the remote view; and     -   adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the         remote view based on the comparison.

16. The method of clause 15, wherein adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises scrolling the area.

17. The method of clause 15, wherein adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises zooming in or zooming out the area.

18. The method of clause 15, further comprising:

-   -   receiving a second message from the remote server that the         window or dialog box has been closed at the remote server; and     -   undoing the adjustment of the area of the display output data         displayed in the remote view in response to the second message.

19. The method of clause 13, further comprising:

-   -   receiving coordinates and dimensions of an object of the remote         application from the remote server;     -   comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the object with the         coordinates and dimensions of the area of the display output         data displayed in the remote view; and     -   adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the         remote view based on the comparison.

20. The method of clause 19, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output data comprises adjusting the area of the display output data such that substantially the entire object is displayed in the remote view.

21. The method of clause 19, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises scrolling the area.

22. The method of clause 19, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises zooming in or zooming out the area.

23. The method of clause 13, further comprising:

-   -   receiving a uniform resource locator (URL) from the remote         server;     -   downloading a video file using the URL; and     -   playing the video file using a local media player application.

24. A machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a local graphical user interface (GUI) and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, the instructions comprising code for:

-   -   generating the remote view of the remote application based on         display output data of the remote application received at the         local client device from the remote server;     -   generating the local GUI for controlling the remote application         remotely from the local client device;     -   controlling an area of the display output data of the remote         application that is displayed in the remote view;     -   tracking coordinates and dimensions of the area; and     -   providing, to a local display at the local client device, a         composite view comprising the local GUI and the remote view of         the remote application.

25. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving a message from the remote server including a command         to activate a graphical keyboard of the local GUI at the local         client device; and     -   activating the graphical keyboard in response to the received         message.

26. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving coordinates and dimensions of a window or dialog box         at the remote server from the remote server;     -   comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the window or dialog         box with the coordinates and dimensions of the area of the         display output data displayed in the remote view; and     -   adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the         remote view based on the comparison.

27. The machine-readable medium of clause 26, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises scrolling the area.

28. The machine-readable medium of clause 26, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises zooming in or zooming out the area.

29. The machine-readable medium of clause 26, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving a second message from the remote server that the         window or dialog box has been closed at the remote server; and     -   undoing the adjustment of the area of the display output data         displayed in the remote view in response to the second message.

30. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving coordinates and dimensions of an object of the remote         application from the remote server;     -   comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the object with the         coordinates and dimensions of the area of the display output         data displayed in the remote view; and     -   adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the         remote view based on the comparison.

31. The machine-readable medium of clause 30, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output data comprises adjusting the area of the display output data such that substantially the entire object is displayed in the remote view.

32. The machine-readable medium of clause 30, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises scrolling the area.

33. The machine-readable medium of clause 30, wherein the adjusting the area of the display output displayed in the remote view comprises zooming in or zooming out the area.

34. The machine-readable medium of clause 24, wherein the instructions further comprise code for:

-   -   receiving a uniform resource locator (URL) from the remote         server;     -   downloading a video file using the URL; and     -   playing the video file using a local media player application.

35. An apparatus for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a local graphical user interface (GUI) and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising:

-   -   means for generating the remote view of the remote application         based on display output data of the remote application received         at the local client device from the remote server (e.g., 2410-B         of FIG. 24B);     -   means for generating the local GUI for controlling the remote         application remotely from the local client device (e.g.,         2420-B);     -   means for controlling an area of the display output data of the         remote application that is displayed in the remote view (e.g.,         2430-B);     -   means for tracking coordinates and dimensions of the area (e.g.,         2440-B); and     -   means for providing, to a local display at the local client         device, a composite view comprising the local GUI and the remote         view of the remote application (e.g., 2450-B).

36. The apparatus of clause 35, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving a message from the remote server including a         command to activate a graphical keyboard of the local GUI at the         local client device; and     -   means for activating the graphical keyboard in response to the         received message.

37. The apparatus of clause 35, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving coordinates and dimensions of a window or         dialog box at the remote server from the remote server;     -   means for comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the window         or dialog box with the coordinates and dimensions of the area of         the display output data displayed in the remote view; and     -   means for adjusting the area of the display output data         displayed in the remote view based on the comparison.

38. The apparatus of clause 37, wherein the means for adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises means for scrolling the area.

39. The apparatus of clause 37, wherein the means for adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises means for zooming in or zooming out the area.

40. The apparatus of clause 37, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving a second message from the remote server that         the window or dialog box has been closed at the remote server;         and     -   means for undoing the adjustment of the area of the display         output data displayed in the remote view in response to the         second message.

41. The apparatus of clause 35, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving coordinates and dimensions of an object of         the remote application from the remote server;     -   means for comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the object         with the coordinates and dimensions of the area of the display         output data displayed in the remote view; and     -   means for adjusting the area of the display output data         displayed in the remote view based on the comparison.

42. The apparatus of clause 41, wherein the means for adjusting the area of the display output data comprises means for adjusting the area of the display output data such that substantially the entire object is displayed in the remote view.

43. The apparatus of clause 41, wherein the means for adjusting the area of the display output data displayed in the remote view comprises means for scrolling the area.

44. The apparatus of clause 41, wherein the means for adjusting the area of the display output displayed in the remote view comprises means for zooming in or zooming out the area.

45. The apparatus of clause 35, further comprising:

-   -   means for receiving a uniform resource locator (URL) from the         remote server;     -   means for downloading a video file using the URL; and     -   means for playing the video file using a local media player         application.

Referring back to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the client device 202 allows a user to remotely access the server 204 via the remote access connection 525. For example, the user may use the client device 202 to remotely access a desktop and/or an application 327 on the server 204. However, the desktop and/or application 327 on the server 204 may be designed for display on a large display at the server 204 while the client device 202 (e.g., smartphone) may have a much smaller display. Therefore, a challenge of remote access from a client device 202 having a small display 560 is providing a level of interactivity that matches the desktop experience as much as possible but utilizing a much smaller screen footprint (e.g., 2.5 inches by 3 inches).

The input device 565 may include a touch screen that allows the user to enter inputs to the client device 202 by touching the display 560 with a finger. For example, the user may open an application 327 on a remote desktop by tapping an icon on the display 560 representing the application 327. However, when the user accesses a remote desktop and/or application 327 on the server 204 from a client device 202 having a small display 560, it can be difficult and cumbersome for the user to interact with the remote desktop and/or application 327 using a touch screen at the client device 202. This is because many of the interaction elements (e.g., icons, menu items, drop down arrows, etc.) displayed on the small display 560 of the client device 202 (e.g., smartphone) may be too small for the user to properly select a desired element with a finger. As a result, the user may have to resize the screen (e.g., zoom in on the desired element) so that the desired element is large enough to be distinctly tapped by the user's finger. This requires additional inputs from the user. In addition, by resizing the screen to enlarge the desired element, the portion of the remote desktop and/or application 327 displayed at the client device 202 is reduced, thereby reducing the user's view of the remote desktop and/or application 327.

According to various aspect of the disclosure, the client device 202 displays a local cursor, which receives user inputs via a touch screen. As discussed further below, the local cursor provides for a more efficient user experience by reducing the number of screen adjustments that the user has to perform to interact with small elements on the display 560. The local cursor may also house additional command features to provide the user with additional functionalities.

FIG. 25A shows an example of a composite view rendered on the display 560 of the client device 202. The composite view includes a remote view 2504 for viewing a remote desktop and/or application 327 running on the server 304. The remote view 2504 is an image of the remote desktop and/or application 327 based on display output data received by the client device 202 from the server 204, as discussed above. In the example shown in FIG. 25A, the remote view 2504 shows an image of a remote desktop running on the server 204. The remote desktop includes interaction elements 2510, for example, for opening applications, documents and/or files on the server 204.

The composite view also includes a local GUI toolbar 2506 that is generated by the local view module 540, for example, based on the configuration file 541 (shown in FIG. 5B), as discussed above. In the example shown in FIG. 25A, the local GUI toolbar 2506 includes a keyboard icon 820, a local cursor icon 2512 and a minimize icon 2514. The keyboard icon 820 allows the user to bring up the graphical keyboard 820 a (shown in FIG. 8B) for entering text by tapping on the keyboard icon 820. The toolbar minimize icon 2514 allows the user to minimize the local GUI toolbar 2506 by tapping on the toolbar minimize icon 2514. The local cursor icon 2512 is discussed further below.

The composite view 2504 also includes a local cursor 2520 overlaid on the remote view 2504. The local cursor 2520 may be generated locally by the local view module 540, for example, based on the configuration file 541. The local cursor 2520 may include one or more of the following: a pointer 2530, a finger pad 2535, a click icon 2540, a features maximize icon 2545 and a minimize icon 2550.

In one aspect disclosure, the user may move the local cursor 2520 on the display 560 by touching any portion of the local cursor 2520 with a finger and sliding the finger to a desired location on the display 560. In this aspect, the local view module 540 detects when the user touches a location on the display 560 corresponding to the local cursor 2520 based on output from the touch screen. The local view module 540 may then move the local cursor 2520 on the display 2504 to track the movements of the user's finger on the display 560. In one aspect, the finger pad 2535 may be sized to accommodate the user's finger. In this aspect, the user may move the local cursor 2520 to a desired location within the display 560 by placing his/her finger on the finger pad 2535 and moving his/her finger on the display 560 to the desired location.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the local cursor 2520 may perform actions on elements 2510 under the pointer 2530 based on user inputs to the local cursor 2520. Thus, the user may select a desired element 2510 on the display 560 by moving the local cursor 2520 (e.g., by placing his/her finger on the finger pad 2535 and moving the finger pad 2535) to position the pointer 2530 of the local cursor 2520 on the desired element 2510. In this example, while the pointer 2530 is on the desired element 2510, the finger pad 2535 is not on the desired element 2510, and it does not block the view of the desired element 2510.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the user may move the local cursor 2520 by placing his/her finger on the finger pad 2535 and moving his/her finger on the display 560. In this aspect, the pointer 2530 may be spaced apart from the finger pad 2535 so that the user can clearly view the pointer 2530 when the user's finger is on the finger pad 2535. In other words, the user's finger on the finger pad 2535 does not obstruct the user's view of the pointer 2530. This allows the user to view the position of the pointer 2530 while moving the local cursor 2520, and therefore more precisely position the pointer 2530 on a desired element 2510 on the display 560.

The pointer 2530 may also be sized to be small enough so that the user can distinctly position the pointer 2530 on a small element 2510 on the display 560. The small size of the pointer 2530 in combination with the clear view of the pointer 2530 on the display 560, allows the user to more precisely select a small element 2510 on the display 560.

In one aspect, a finger pad 2535 may be about the size of a fingertip of an adult (e.g., within +/−20% of the size of a fingertip of an adult) so that a user can easily locate the finger pad and place his/her fingertip on the finger pad. In another example, a finger pad 2535 may be smaller than the size of a fingertip. In another example, a finger pad 2535 may be larger than the size of a fingertip. In one example, a finger pad may be about 0.25 to 1.25 inches in diameter (e.g., 0.25-0.5, 0.5-0.75, 0.75-1, 1-1.25 inches or any value(s) between 0.25 and 1.25 inches). In one example, it may be advantageous to have a finger pad that is about 0.3-0.8 inches in diameter. This number may vary depending on screen size of the mobile device These are examples, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. In one aspect, a user may adjust the size of a finger pad.

In one aspect, a pointer 2530 may be smaller than a finger pad 2535 or smaller than the size of a fingertip of an adult. In one example, a pointer may be about 2 to 50 times smaller than a finger pad (e.g., 2-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, or 30-40 times smaller than a finger pad, or any value(s) between 2 and 50). In one example, it may be advantageous to have a pointer that is about 8 to 13 times smaller than a finger pad. These are examples, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. In on aspect, a user may adjust the size of a pointer.

After the user positions the pointer 2530 of the local cursor 2520 on a desired element 2510 on the display 560, the user may interact with the desired element 2510 by entering inputs to the local cursor 2520.

In one aspect, the user may click on a desired element 2510 by positioning the pointer 2530 on the desired element 2510 and tapping the click icon 2540 of the local cursor 2520. In this aspect, the local cursor 2520 may light up to a different color to signify that the user has tapped the click icon 2540. FIG. 25B shows an example in which the pointer 2530 of the local cursor 2520 is positioned on an element 2510 representing a web browser application. In this example, the user may open the web browser application by tapping the click icon 2540 of the local cursor 2520. In one aspect, the user may double tap the click icon 2540 to open an application corresponding to the element 2510.

In another aspect, the user may drag a desired element 2510 by positioning the pointer 2530 on the desired element 2510 and tapping and holding the click icon 2540 of the local cursor 2520 until the local cursor 2520 lights up to a different color signifying that a drag mode of the local cursor 2520 has been activated. While holding the click icon 2540, the user can move the local cursor 2520 to a desired location on the display 560 to drag the desired element 2510 to the desired location. At the desired location, the user can lift his/her finger from the local cursor 2520 to deactivate the drag mode. When the drag mode is deactivated, the local cursor 2520 may go back to its original color. The user may also tap and hold a different portion of the local cursor 2520 to activate the drag mode.

The local cursor 2520 can allow the user to enter more precise pointer inputs using the touch screen, thereby facilitating clicking on small elements on the display 560, selecting text or cell groups, moving windows, etc. The more precise pointer inputs reduce the number of screen adjustments (e.g., panning and zooming) that the user needs to perform to interact with small elements 2510 on the display 560.

Examples of other user inputs that can be entered using the local cursor 2520 are discussed below.

In one aspect, the local view module 540 may monitor coordinates of the position of the pointer 2530 on the display 560 and user inputs (e.g., clicks) to the local cursor 2520. The local view module 540 may then send pointer coordinates and user inputs (e.g., clicks) to the server 204 via the client remote access module 452. The client remote access module 452 may send the pointer coordinates and user inputs to the server 204 via the remote access connection 525 using a remote access protocol (e.g., RDP/ICA), other protocol or a combination of protocols. The server 204 may update the display output of the desktop and/or application 327 based on the received pointer coordinates and user inputs and send the updated display output to the client device 202 to update the remote view 2504 at the client device 202 accordingly. In this aspect, the pointer image at the server 204 may be disabled since the user at the client device 202 is using the locally generated local cursor 2520.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the user may activate the local cursor 2520 by holding a finger down on the display 560 for a predetermined period of time (e.g., one second). In this aspect, the local cursor 2520 may appear on the display 560 at the position of the user's finger on the display 560 after the predetermined period of time.

When the local cursor 2520 is not displayed, the user may also activate or enable the local cursor 2520 by tapping on the local cursor icon 2512 in the local GUI toolbar 2506. When the local cursor 2520 is displayed, the user may hide the local cursor 2520 by tapping on the local cursor icon 2512. The local cursor 2520 may also include an icon that can be tapped to hide the local cursor 2520.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the local cursor 2520 may be semi transparent so that the user can see contents of the remote view 2504 beneath the local cursor 2520. In this aspect, the user may adjust the level of transparency of the local cursor 2520.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the local cursor 2520 may include additional commands that the user may access by tapping on the features maximize icon 2545. FIG. 25C shows an example of additional command icons 2560 a-2560 e of the local cursor 2520, which are displayed on the display 560 after the user taps on the features maximize icon 2545 (shown in FIG. 25A). When the additional command icons 2560 a-2560 e are displayed, the features maximize icon 2545 may be replaced with a features minimize icon 2565 (shown in FIG. 25C), which the user can tap on to hide the additional command icons 2560 a-2560 e. In the examples shown in FIGS. 25A and 25C, the features maximize icon 2545 includes a “+” sign and the features minimize icon 2565 includes a “−” sign.

The user can enter a particular command by tapping on a corresponding one of the command icons 2560 a-2560 e. When the user enters a command, the local view module 540 may generate a corresponding command message and send the command message to the remote server 204 via the client remote access module 452, as discussed above. Upon receiving the command message, the remote server 204 may execute the command at the remote server 204 and send updated display output data to the client device 202 showing the effect of the command on the desktop and/or application 327 running at the remote server 204, as discussed above.

In one aspect, the user can customize the command icons 2560 a-2560 e to add commands relevant to a particular environment or application. For example, the command icons 2560 a-2560 e may provide the user with shortcuts to commonly used commands for a particular environment or application. In one aspect, the local cursor 2520 may include a multi-level set of additional features that may be customized in a setting page to show additional features. In this aspect, the user may go to a settings page for the local cursor and select the additional commands from a list of available commands. For example, assuming that the local cursor 2545 has up to five spaces available for commands, the user can optionally assign a command to each of the five spaces. The local cursor 2545 may have any number of spaces for additional commands. Command icons 2560 a-2560 e corresponding to the user-selected or assigned commands may then be displayed when the user taps on the features maximize icon 2545. Thus, the local cursor 2520 allows the user to customize the additional commands to include different shortcuts based on the user and application needs.

In the example shown in FIG. 25C, the additional command icons 2560 a-2560 e include a “right-click” icon 2560 a to perform a right click. In this example, the click icon 2540 may be a “left-click” icon to perform a left click. The additional command icons 2560 a-2560 e may include an “activate keyboard” icon 2560 b to activate the graphical keyboard 820 a, an “alt tab” icon 2560 c to switch windows, a magnification icon 2560 d, and a scroll icon 2560 e. Other commands that can be added include an “alt+F4” command to close the top most window, a “minimize all” command and other commands. These are some of the examples, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples.

The magnification icon 2560 d may activate a magnification function that magnifies an area around the pointer 2530. For example, the magnification function may magnify the area around the pointer 2530 by a factor of 2 or 3. The user may activate this feature to provide more precise positioning of the pointer 2530 on a small element 2510. In another aspect, the magnification function may zoom in the screen by a certain amount with the zoom being centered at the pointer 2530.

In one aspect, all components (e.g., 2530, 2540, 2535, 2545, 2550, 2560 a-2560 e, 2565, 2567 shown in FIGS. 25B and 25C) of the local cursor 2520 are at predetermined, fixed locations with respect to each other, and when a user places his/her finger on a finger pad 2535 and moves his/her finger, all components of the local cursor 2520 that are displayed on the display 560 may be moved together simultaneously in the same direction in the same amount. For example, all of the components of the local cursor 2520 shown in FIG. 25B may move together, and all of the components of the local cursor 2520 shown in FIG. 25C may move together.

In one example, the components of a local cursor 2520 have a circular shape, except that a pointer 2530 is shaped like a pointer. In another example, each or some of the components of the local cursor may have a different shape. It should be noted that the term “diameter” may refer to a diameter of a circle or a width of another shape.

In one aspect, the user may minimize or hide the local GUI toolbar 2506 by tapping on the toolbar minimize icon 2514 (shown in FIG. 25A). An example of this is shown in FIG. 25C, in which the local GUI toolbar 2506 has been minimized to maximize the viewing area of the remote view 2504. In this example, a toolbar 2572 on the server 2504 is revealed by the minimization of the local GUI toolbar 2506. When the local GUI toolbar is minimized, a toolbar maximize icon 2570 may be displayed on the display 560. The user may maximize or display the local GUI toolbar 2506 by tapping on the toolbar maximize icon 2570. In the above aspects, the user may select an icon by tapping on the icon with a finger or clicking on the icon, e.g., with the local cursor 2520.

In one aspect, the user may move the maximize toolbar icon 2570 to a desired position on the display 560 so that the toolbar icon 2570 does not obscure an important area on the display 560. The user may drag the toolbar icon 2570 to the desired position by holding a finger on the toolbar 2570 and moving the finger to the desired location. The user may also drag the toolbar icon 2570 using the local cursor 2520, as discussed above. In another aspect, the toolbar icon 2570 may be semi transparent so that the user can see contents of the remote view 2504 beneath the toolbar icon 2570.

In the example shown in FIG. 25A, the minimize toolbar icon 2514 is in the form of a downward-pointing triangle and in the example shown in FIG. 25C, the maximize toolbar icon 2570 is in the form of an upward-pointing triangle.

In one aspect, the local cursor 2520 may include a minimize icon 2550 (shown in FIG. 25A) for minimizing or hiding the local GUI toolbar 2506. When the local GUI toolbar 2506 is minimized, the minimize icon 2550 may be replaced by a maximize icon 2567 (shown in FIG. 25C) for maximizing or displaying the local GUI toolbar 2506.

In one aspect, the user may use the local cursor 2520 to pan or scroll the remote view 2504 without having to execute panning gestures in other parts of the display 560. In this aspect, the remote view 2504 may automatically pan when the user moves the local cursor 2520 to an edge of the remote view 2504. An example of this is illustrated in FIG. 25D. In this example, the remote view 2504 pans to the right when the local cursor 2520 is moved to and held at the right edge 2580 b of the remote view 2504. As a result, the elements 2510 on the display 560 are shifted to the left. The user may stop the panning by moving the local cursor 2520 away from the edge 2580 b. In this aspect, the remote view 2504 may pan up or down when the user moves and holds the local cursor 2520 at the top or bottom edge 2580 a and 2580 c, respectively, of the remote view 2504. The remote view 2504 may pan to the left or right when the user moves and holds the local cursor 2520 at the left or right edge 2580 d and 2580 b, respectively, of the remote view 2504. Thus, the local cursor 2520 may include navigational features.

In one aspect, the user may user his/her finger for screen navigation. In this aspect, the user may pan or scroll the remote view 2504 by sliding his/her finger across the display 560 on a portion of the display 560 located outside of the local cursor 2520. The user may slide his/her finger in a direction corresponding to the desired pan or scroll direction. The user may also zoom in and zoom out the display 560 using his/her fingers, as discussed above. The user may then use the local cursor 2520 to interact with elements 2510 on the display 560 by placing his/her finger on the local cursor 2520, as discussed above. Thus, the user can quickly transition from using his/her finger for screen navigation to screen interaction.

FIG. 26A shows a blowup view of the local cursor 2520 in FIG. 25A when the additional command icons 2640 a-2560 e are hidden. FIG. 26B shows a local cursor 2520 without the minimization icon 2550 according to another aspect.

FIG. 27A shows a blowup view of the local cursor 2520 in FIG. 25C when the additional command icons 2560 a-2560 e are displayed. FIG. 27B shows a local cursor 2520 with the “right click” icon 2560 a and the “keyboard activation” icon 2560 b according to another aspect.

Other approaches have been used to provide interactivity at a client device with a small display.

In one approach, users are presented with a cursor 2810 that is fixed to the center of the screen, an example of which is shown in FIG. 28A. To interact with small elements the user has to reposition the screen so that the center of the screen is positioned right above the element he/she wants to click.

In a second approach, users switch from navigation to interaction by clicking on a navigation icon 2830 or an interaction icon 2820 at the bottom of the screen that allows the user to transition from mouse input to navigation, an example of which is shown in FIG. 28B.

The first approach is less efficient than the local cursor 2520 according to aspects of the subject technology because the user has limited control over the pointer as it is fixed in the center of the screen. This requires the user to redraw and relocate the screen constantly.

The second approach is less efficient than the local cursor 2520 according to aspects of the subject technology because, although it is possible to transition quickly from navigation to interaction, the user still is using his/her finger to interact with screen elements. This still forces the user to reconfigure the screen to be able to interact with small elements using his/her finger.

The subject technology is illustrated, for example, according to various aspects described below. Numbered clauses are provided below for convenience. These are provided as examples, and do not limit the subject technology.

1. An apparatus for communication and rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising:

-   -   a remote view module configured to generate the remote view of         the remote application based on display output of the remote         application received at the local client device from the remote         server;     -   a local view module configured to generate the cursor, the         cursor including a finger pad and a pointer, configured to         monitor movements of a user's finger on a local display at the         local client device, configured to move the finger pad and the         pointer together on the local display to track movements of the         user's finger on the local display, configured to receive user         inputs to the cursor from the local display, and configured to         facilitate sending coordinates of the pointer and the received         user inputs to the remote server; and     -   a display module configured to provide, to the local display, a         composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view.

2. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the finger pad of the cursor has a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.8 inches.

3. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 2 to 50 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

4. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 8 to 13 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

5. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the pointer is spaced apart from the finger pad so that a user can view the pointer on the local display when the user's finger is placed on the finger pad on the local display.

6. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to facilitate sending the coordinates of the pointer and a click input to the remote server when the user's finger taps on the finger pad on the local display.

7. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to facilitate sending the coordinates of the pointer and a drag input to the remote server when the user's finger taps and holds the finger pad on the local display.

8. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the local view module is configured to pan the remote view when the user moves and holds the cursor at an edge of the remote view on the local display.

9. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the cursor comprises a maximize icon, and the local view module is configured to activate a plurality of command icons for the cursor when the user's finger taps on the maximize icon on the local display and configured to move the plurality of command icons together with the finger pad and the pointer on the local display.

10. The apparatus of clause 9, wherein the plurality of command icons are arranged around the finger pad on the local display.

11. The apparatus of clause 9, wherein the plurality of command icons include a command icon selected from the group consisting of: a keyboard activation command icon, a right click icon, a close window command icon, a switch window command icon and a screen magnification command icon.

12. The apparatus of clause 9, the local view module is configured to generate a command message when the user's finger taps on one of the plurality of command icons, and configured to facilitate sending the generated command message to the remote server.

13. A method for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising:

-   -   generating the remote view of the remote application based on         display output of the remote application received at the local         client device from the remote server (e.g., 2910-A of FIG. 29A);     -   generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a         pointer (e.g., 2920-A);     -   providing, to a local display at the local client device, a         composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view (e.g.,         2930-A);     -   monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display         (e.g., 2940-A);     -   moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local         display to track movements of the user's finger on the local         display (e.g., 2950-A);     -   receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display         (e.g., 2960-A); and     -   facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received         user inputs to the remote server (e.g., 2970-A).

14. The method of clause 13, wherein the finger pad of the cursor has a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.8 inches.

15. The method of clause 13, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 2 to 50 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

16. The method of clause 13, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 8 to 13 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

17. The method of clause 13, wherein the pointer is spaced apart from the finger pad so that a user can view the pointer on the local display when the user's finger is placed on the finger pad on the local display.

18. The method of clause 13, further comprising facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and a click input to the remote server when the user's finger taps on the finger pad on the local display.

19. The method of clause 13, further comprising facilitating sending the coordinates of the pointer and a drag input to the remote server when the user's finger taps and holds the finger pad on the local display.

20. The method of clause 13, further comprising panning the remote view when the user moves and holds the cursor at an edge of the remote view on the local display.

21. The method of clause 13, wherein the cursor comprises a maximize icon, further comprising:

-   -   activating a plurality of command icons for the cursor when the         user's finger taps on the maximize icon on the local display;         and     -   moving the plurality of command icons together with the finger         pad and the pointer on the local display.

22. The method of clause 21, wherein the plurality of command icons are arranged around the finger pad on the local display.

23. The method of clause 21, wherein the plurality of command icons include a command icon selected from the group consisting of: a keyboard activation command icon, a right click icon, a close window command icon, a switch window command icon and a screen magnification command icon.

24. The method of clause 21, further comprising:

-   -   generating a command message when the user's finger taps on one         of the plurality of command icons; and     -   facilitating sending the generated command message to the remote         server.

25. An apparatus for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising:

-   -   means for generating the remote view of the remote application         based on display output of the remote application received at         the local client device from the remote server (e.g., 2910-B of         FIG. 29B);     -   means for generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger         pad and a pointer (e.g., 2920-B);     -   means for providing, to a local display at the local client         device, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote         view (e.g., 2930-B);     -   means for monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local         display (e.g., 2940-B);     -   means for moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the         local display to track movements of the user's finger on the         local display (e.g., 2950-B);     -   means for receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local         display (e.g., 2960-B); and     -   means for facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and         the received user inputs to the remote server (e.g., 2970-B).

26. The apparatus of clause 25, wherein the finger pad of the cursor has a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.8 inches.

27. The apparatus of clause 25, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 2 to 50 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

28. The apparatus of clause 25, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 8 to 13 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

29. The apparatus of clause 25, wherein the pointer is spaced apart from the finger pad so that a user can view the pointer on the local display when the user's finger is placed on the finger pad on the local display.

30. The apparatus of clause 25, further comprising means for facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and a click input to the remote server when the user's finger taps on the finger pad on the local display.

31. The apparatus of clause 25, further comprising means for facilitating sending the coordinates of the pointer and a drag input to the remote server when the user's finger taps and holds the finger pad on the local display.

32. The apparatus of clause 25, further comprising means for panning the remote view when the user moves and holds the cursor at an edge of the remote view on the local display.

33. The apparatus of clause 25, wherein the cursor comprises a maximize icon, further comprising:

-   -   means for activating a plurality of command icons for the cursor         when the user's finger taps on the maximize icon on the local         display; and     -   means for moving the plurality of command icons together with         the finger pad and the pointer on the local display.

34. The apparatus of clause 33, wherein the plurality of command icons are arranged around the finger pad on the local display.

35. The apparatus of clause 33, wherein the plurality of command icons include a command icon selected from the group consisting of: a keyboard activation command icon, a right click icon, a close window command icon, a switch window command icon and a screen magnification command icon.

36. The apparatus of clause 33, further comprising:

-   -   means for generating a command message when the user's finger         taps on one of the plurality of command icons; and     -   means for facilitating sending the generated command message to         the remote server.

37. A machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, the instructions comprising code for:

-   -   generating the remote view of the remote application based on         display output of the remote application received at the local         client device from the remote server;     -   generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a         pointer;     -   providing, to a local display at the local client device, a         composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view;     -   monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display;     -   moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local         display to track movements of the user's finger on the local         display;     -   receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display; and     -   facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received         user inputs to the remote server.

38. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the finger pad of the cursor has a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.8 inches.

39. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 2 to 50 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

40. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 8 to 13 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.

41. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the pointer is spaced apart from the finger pad so that a user can view the pointer on the local display when the user's finger is placed on the finger pad on the local display.

42. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the instructions comprise code for facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and a click input to the remote server when the user's finger taps on the finger pad on the local display.

43. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the instructions comprise code for facilitating sending the coordinates of the pointer and a drag input to the remote server when the user's finger taps and holds the finger pad on the local display.

44. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the instructions comprise code for panning the remote view when the user moves and holds the cursor at an edge of the remote view on the local display.

45. The machine-readable medium of clause 37, wherein the cursor comprises a maximize icon, and the instructions comprise code for:

-   -   activating a plurality of command icons for the cursor when the         user's finger taps on the maximize icon on the local display;         and     -   moving the plurality of command icons together with the finger         pad and the pointer on the local display.

46. The machine-readable medium of clause 45, wherein the plurality of command icons are arranged around the finger pad on the local display.

47. The machine-readable medium of clause 45, wherein the plurality of command icons include a command icon selected from the group consisting of: a keyboard activation command icon, a right click icon, a close window command icon, a switch window command icon and a screen magnification command icon.

48. The machine-readable medium of clause 45, wherein the instructions comprise code for:

-   -   generating a command message when the user's finger taps on one         of the plurality of command icons; and     -   facilitating sending the generated command message to the remote         server.

Those of skill in the art would appreciate that the various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, components, methods, and algorithms described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both.

For example, a module (e.g., an agent module 322, a viewer controller module 456, a local view module 540, a remote view module 535, or any other modules) may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. In one aspect, a module(s) may be an apparatus since a module(s) may include instructions encoded or stored on a machine-readable medium, on another device, or on a portion thereof. In one aspect, a module(s) may be software (e.g., an application, a subroutine) stored in a machine-readable medium and executable by a processing system or a processor. In another aspect, a module(s) may be hardware (e.g., machine-readable medium encoded with instructions, a pre-programmed general-purpose computer, or a special purpose electronic or optical device).

Various modules may reside in one machine or in multiple machines. In one example, modules for the server side (e.g., an agent module, an application module, a server remote access module, etc.) may be located in one server or spread over multiple servers. In another example, modules for the client side (e.g., a client remote access module, a viewer controller module, a local view module, a remote view module, a display module, etc.) may be located in one client device or spread over multiple client devices.

In one aspect of the disclosure, when actions or functions are described as being performed by a module or a component (e.g., establishing, sending, receiving, providing, building, displaying, registering, encrypting, decrypting, authenticating, notifying, accepting, selecting, controlling, issuing, transmitting, reporting, pushing, or any other action or function), it is understood that such actions or functions are performed by the module or the component directly or indirectly. As an example, when a module is described as performing an action, it is understood that the module may perform the action directly or may perform the action indirectly, for example, by facilitating such an action. For instance, when a session is described as being established by a module, it is understood that the module may establish the session indirectly by facilitating an establishment of the session. As yet another example, when a view of an application is described as being displayed or rendered by a module, it is understood that the view may be displayed or rendered by the module either directly or indirectly.

To illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, components, methods, and algorithms have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application.

Various components and blocks may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order, or partitioned in a different way) all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. In one aspect of the disclosure, the modules (or elements) recited in the accompanying claims may be performed by one module or by a smaller number of modules, and this arrangement is within the scope of the claims. In another aspect, the modules (or elements) recited in the accompanying claims may be performed by a larger number of modules, and this arrangement is within the scope of the claims. In yet another aspect, a module (or an element) recited in the accompanying claims may be performed by multiple modules, and this arrangement is within the scope of the claims. For example, a local view module and a remote view module may be combined into one module. A client remote access module, a local view module and a remote view module may be combined into one module. An agent module and a server remote access module may be combined into one module. In another example, these modules may be divided into a larger number of modules.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Some of the steps may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The previous description provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.

A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples of the disclosure. A phrase such a configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

1. An apparatus for communication and rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising: a remote view module configured to generate the remote view of the remote application based on display output of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server; a local view module configured to generate the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer, configured to monitor movements of a user's finger on a local display at the local client device, configured to move the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user's finger on the local display, configured to receive user inputs to the cursor from the local display, and configured to facilitate sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server; and a display module configured to provide, to the local display, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the finger pad of the cursor has a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.8 inches.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 2 to 50 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 8 to 13 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pointer is spaced apart from the finger pad so that a user can view the pointer on the local display when the user's finger is placed on the finger pad on the local display.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the local view module is configured to facilitate sending the coordinates of the pointer and a click input to the remote server when the user's finger taps on the finger pad on the local display.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the local view module is configured to facilitate sending the coordinates of the pointer and a drag input to the remote server when the user's finger taps and holds the finger pad on the local display.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the local view module is configured to pan the remote view when the user moves and holds the cursor at an edge of the remote view on the local display.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cursor comprises a maximize icon, and the local view module is configured to activate a plurality of command icons for the cursor when the user's finger taps on the maximize icon on the local display and configured to move the plurality of command icons together with the finger pad and the pointer on the local display.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of command icons are arranged around the finger pad on the local display.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of command icons include a command icon selected from the group consisting of: a keyboard activation command icon, a right click icon, a close window command icon, a switch window command icon and a screen magnification command icon.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, the local view module is configured to generate a command message when the user's finger taps on one of the plurality of command icons, and configured to facilitate sending the generated command message to the remote server.
 13. A method for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising: generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server; generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer; providing, to a local display at the local client device, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view; monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display; moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user's finger on the local display; receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display; and facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server.
 14. An apparatus for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, comprising: means for generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server; means for generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer; means for providing, to a local display at the local client device, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view; means for monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display; means for moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user's finger on the local display; means for receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display; and means for facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server.
 15. A machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for rendering at a local client device a composite view including a cursor and a remote view associated with a remote application running on a remote server, the instructions comprising code for: generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output of the remote application received at the local client device from the remote server; generating the cursor, the cursor including a finger pad and a pointer; providing, to a local display at the local client device, a composite view comprising the cursor and the remote view; monitoring movements of a user's finger on the local display; moving the finger pad and the pointer together on the local display to track movements of the user's finger on the local display; receiving user inputs to the cursor from the local display; and facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and the received user inputs to the remote server.
 16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the finger pad of the cursor has a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.8 inches.
 17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 2 to 50 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.
 18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the pointer of the cursor is about 8 to 13 times smaller than the finger pad of the cursor.
 19. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the pointer is spaced apart from the finger pad so that a user can view the pointer on the local display when the user's finger is placed on the finger pad on the local display.
 20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise code for facilitating sending coordinates of the pointer and a click input to the remote server when the user's finger taps on the finger pad on the local display.
 21. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise code for facilitating sending the coordinates of the pointer and a drag input to the remote server when the user's finger taps and holds the finger pad on the local display.
 22. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise code for panning the remote view when the user moves and holds the cursor at an edge of the remote view on the local display.
 23. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the cursor comprises a maximize icon, and the instructions comprise code for: activating a plurality of command icons for the cursor when the user's finger taps on the maximize icon on the local display; and moving the plurality of command icons together with the finger pad and the pointer on the local display.
 24. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of command icons are arranged around the finger pad on the local display.
 25. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of command icons include a command icon selected from the group consisting of: a keyboard activation command icon, a right click icon, a close window command icon, a switch window command icon and a screen magnification command icon.
 26. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions comprise code for: generating a command message when the user's finger taps on one of the plurality of command icons; and facilitating sending the generated command message to the remote server. 